Costa Rica stun Italy with Ruiz goal for 1-0 halftime lead

RECIFE Brazil (Reuters) - Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz headed his side into a 1-0 halftime lead against four-times World Cup winners Italy with a 44th-minute goal in their Group D clash on Friday.

Ruiz met Junior Duiz's cross from the left with a header past keeper Gianluigi Buffon that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down over the line.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli earlier twice wasted opportunities to break the deadlock as Costa Rica, who began their campaign with a surprise defeat of Uruguay, again showed they are not in Brazil to make up the numbers.

(Writing by Justin Palmer; editing by Ken Ferris)