Netherlands guide Louis van Gaal brought the Newcastle United chaperon on for Jasper Cillessen in the last minute of extra time after a goalless 120 minutes in Salvador – and the decision paid off bounteously.
Krul denied Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana while Netherlands changed over each and every bit of its spot-kicks to set up a social event with Argentina in the last four in Sao Paulo.
Netherlands had different chances to score before spot-kicks were obliged however was denied by Costa Rica orderly Keylor Navas, who had recovered from a shoulder harm to start and was named man of the match.
The Oranje similarly hit the cross three times, consolidating in the latest minute of normal time when Robin van Persie’s shot was redirected onto the crossbar by protection Yeltsin Tejeda on the destination line.
Borges, Gonzalez and Bolanos did evaluate how to beat Krul yet Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder and Kuyt’s productive kicks were sufficient for Netherlands.
A Costa Rica side that had never touched base at the quarter-last stage before and had been the awe heap of the opposition persisted incident however can return home with its head held high.