Team

International Notebook | Tuiloma and New Zealand quest for 2022 World Cup berth ends

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Bill Tuiloma and New Zealand played to a 1-0 loss against Costa Rica in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoff match Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. With the loss, the all Whites were eliminated from qualifying while Los Ticos grabbed the last spot in the 32-team field.

Tuiloma played the full 90 as New Zealand put in a spirited performance. Down a goal after a third-minute tally from Costa Rica's Joel Campbell, the All Whites had a first half equalizer called back following a VAR decision and went down to 10 men in the 69th minute when VAR again didn't go their way with a red card being given to Kosta Barbarouses.

New Zealand outshot Costa Rica 15-4 and held a 67% to 33% edge in possession as well as generating the majority of the chances in the match but they could not find the equalizer.