Fortaleza: The World Cup hopes of Uruguay, who were missing influential striker Luis Suarez, were kept in check by Costa Rica who hit three second-half goals to humiliate the former champions 3-1 in Fortaleza on Saturday.


Costa Rica's forward Marco Urena celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during a Group D football match between Uruguay and Costa Rica at the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza. Pic/AFP 

Uruguay, fourth-place finishers in South Africa in 2010, were expected to battle Italy and England for one of the two qualifying places that offer access to the competition's second round.