International friendly: Venezuela 0 Costa Rica 2

Costa Rica enjoyed a 2-0 win in their friendly with Venezuela in Barquisimeto on Thursday.

After a sedate opening period, the game sprang to life shortly before the interval when Costa Rica’s Rodney Wallace, who plays his club football for MLS outfit Portland Timbers, opened the scoring.

The crowd at the Estadio Metropolitano de Futbol de Lara were silenced when the 23-year-old defender shot past Alan Liebeskind in the Venezuela goal with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Herediano midfielder Jose Cubero made it 2-0 for ths visitors eight minutes after the restart and despite their best efforts, Venezuela could not find a way back into the match.

Costa Rica’s next scheduled match is a friendly against Guatemala on February 29, while Venezuela are due to play the United States, also in a friendly, on January 21.