It was blood, sweat and tears, and the blood part almost literally, for the Women’s National Football Team of Costa Rica as they earned a well-deserved bronze medal in Mexico against their counterparts from Venezuela, who reacted very aggressively on the pitch and ignited a brawl that ensued a flurry of red cards.

As reported by Fanny Tayver Marin of sports news daily Al Día, which is sadly nearing its final print edition, Las Ticas overpowered their opponents of Venezuela by a margin of 3-2, thus giving Costa Rica a bronze medal at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, which are being celebrated in the coastal city of Veracruz, Mexico.

Even before the match began, it was clear that Las Ticas were going to come home with a medal. As recently reported by The Costa Rica Star, coach Carlos Garabet Avedissian knew that his players would not lose this match because they were already extremely upset over the loss to Mexico by just one goal on overtime earlier this week.

The match started on a strategic note with both squads testing the waters. Star striker Daniuska Rodriguez from Venezuela opened the scoreboard at the 11-minute mark, a goal that would touch a nerve deep within Las Ticas. It would only take one minute for Carolina Venegas to even the match for Costa Rica.

It would be the skillful Rodriguez who beat our popular goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz at the 22-minute mark. From that point on, coach Avedissian parked the bus slightly and waited for a strategic moment to tie the match. That moment came at the 55-minute mark, when Cristin Granados tied the match 2-2. Just when Venezuela thought they would try to take the match during overtime, Melissa Herrera put the score at 3-2 in favor of Costa Rica at the 92-minute mark, and all hell broke loose.

Venezuelan goalkeeper Maleike Pacheco physically overpowered our diminutive Herrera as she was celebrating victory. Despite the clear size difference, the scrappy Tica stood her ground even as Daniuska Rodriguez and Alexyar Canas rushed to join the battle royal, which by that time had also attracted Karol Sanchez of Costa Rica. The referees stepped in to put an end to the melee, which resulted in five players ejected from the game: Two Ticas and three Venezuelans.

The match resumed even as coach Avedissian affirmed that his counterpart Kenneth Zseremeta ordered his players to incite the hostilities. Still, Las Ticas marched to the podium to proudly receive the bronze medals they had envisioned bringing back home. With this award, the Women’s National Football Team of Costa Rica finished 2014 very strongly and look forward to the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Canada.