Costa Rica v Uruguay
Costa Rica's Campbell celebrates after scoring against Uruguay during their 2014 World Cup Group D match at the Castelao arena in FortalezaReuters

Group D underdogs Costa Rica shocked Uruguay by registering a 3-1 win during their opening game of the World Cup at the Estadio Castelão, Fortaleza.

Uruguay's star striker Luis Suarez, still recovering from a surgery on his left knee, could only watch from the sidelines as his side failed to convert their chances and put pressure on Costa Rica.

The Celeste found the net in the 14th minute, through Diego Godin but the goal was ruled offside. Soon after, Diego Forlan's long-range free kick found Edinson Cavani in a dangerous position in the box but the PSG forward's mishit went wide of the post.

Uruguay finally broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through a penalty from Cavani, after Diego Lugano was dragged down by Júnior Díaz.

Despite trailing, the Costa Ricans did not give up and created a number of chances towards the end of first half. While striker Joel Campbell's excellent 30-yard effort went whistling past the post, Giancarlo Gonzalez's header (from a corner) was just wide off target.

Costa Rica's efforts eventually found sucess as they finally levelled the scores in the 54th minute. Cristian Gamboa, after doing very well to control a long ball on the right flank, raced forward and whipped a cross into the middle of the box. Although his intended target Christian Bolaños was unable to make proper contact with the cross, the ball eventually fell to Campbell, and the Arsenal man made no mistake in stabbing the ball past Fernando Muslera.

Oscar Duarte put Costa Rica in the lead a couple of minutes later. Bryan Ruiz whipped in a cross into the box, and Duarte found the net with a diving header.

Costa Rica sealed Uruguay's fate by grabbing a third goal in the 84th minute. Campbell picked out Marco Ureña in the box, and the substitute found the net with the angle - for his first goal for Costa Rica in three years.

Things went from bad to worse for Uruguay after Maxi Pereira was shown a straight red, following his rash tackle on Campbell.

Check out these photos capturing the best highlights of the game:

Uruguay v Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Junior Diaz and Christian Bolanos fight for the ballReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Uruguay's goalkeeper Muslera dives past Cavani as the ball hits outside of the netReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Costa Rica's national soccer players argue with referee Brych after he issued the team a penaltyReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Uruguay's Cavani scores goal past Costa Rica's NavasReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Uruguay's Edinson Cavani celebrates a goal with teammate Cristian RodriguezReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Campbell shoots to score a goal against UruguayReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Uruguay's Muslera saves a shot at goal by Costa Rica's DuarteReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Duarte heads to score a goal past Uruguay's goalkeeper MusleraReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Urena scores his side's third goal of the matchReuters
Uruguay v Costa Rica
Uruguay's Maximiliano Pereira walks off the pitch after receiving a red cardReuters