Gallery: World Cup

Both Mexico and Netherlands fans were ready to party it up in the sun

As the pitch side temperature reached 38.8 degrees in the Estádio Castelão, even though shadow covered much of the interior at the start of the match

And despite the sweltering temps, the Dutch carrot man returned with a vengeance

Mexico fans were back en force, outnumbering the Dutch fans by a good margin

While this Netherlands fan decided to don the signature Mexican wrestling mask

These afro'ed Mexico fans banded together to watch the action

Mexico's boisterous coach Miguel Herrera (R) joined in his country's national anthem

While defenders Hector Moreno and Francisco Rodriguez worked to keep Netherlands star forward Arjen Robben from sneaking a chance early on

Fellow Mexico defender Hector Aguilar also kept close to Robben, refusing to 'get out of his hair' - so to speak

Mexico forward Giovani dos Santos helped his side create 7 shots in the first, compared to Holland's 2

Forcing cagey Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen to dive all over the box

Looking heavy on their feet, Netherlands striker and captain Robin van Persie decided the best way to help his side would be to grab the shirt of Mexico defender and captain Rafael Marquez

And at 32' the referees called for the first official cooling break of this World Cup. Mexico players used special red towels to cool off on the sidelines

Mexico defender Carlos Salcido was really diggin' that towel

While Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado seemed to express the frustration felt by both sides

Moreno had to be stretchered off just before the end of the first, owing to a combination of the intense heat and a challenge by Robben

With Mexico fans still praying for a victory on the day, the sides headed out of the heat for the half-time break, drawn scoreless and in need of some serious A/C

Dos Santos lit things up early, rocketing in a gorgeous shot from distance right past Cillessen

Dos Santos celebrated putting his side up 1-0 at 48'

And his fans were feeling the love as well

Mexico had more success when Ochoa made a remarkable save midway through the second. The strong shot came off Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij (#3)

Which, using his reflexes, Ochoa punched it out at extremely close range

All of the players looked on as the ball sailed away, a promising Dutch chance stopped defiantly by Mexico

Mexico fans in Rio de Janeiro rejoiced at the huge moment

And Herrera promptly went nuts on the sidelines

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal strategized with his side during the match's second cooling break

And while Robben was frustrated toward the end of the second

His side's hopes were raised when midfielder Wesley Sneijder - who had really under-performed up until then - shot one that fell at his feet zooming past Ochoa, who had no hope of making an effort

Sneijder gathered with his team-mates after drawing things level at 1-1 at 88'

With extra time looming, Mexico's Marquez was booked in the box for a poor challenge on Robben, who - to be fair - fell quite dramatically during the play

Forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar took the penalty at 90 +4'

Which he converted with a low left shot. The Dutch pulled off another come-from-behind victory, beating a devastated Mexico 2-1. Huntelaar celebrated his securing victory with Memphis Depay

Just over two hours later, the second knock-out match of Day 18 saw a clash of underdogs, where Costa Rica took on Greece in Recife

Costa Rica fans dominated the crowd, proudly displaying their flags of red, white and blue

While the Greeks were not to be outdone, at least as far as their scarf game was concerned

Some of the Costa Rica fans might have gotten a bit TOO rowdy...

Which had good ole Sepp pointing fingers yet again

Both sides lined up to sing their anthems before things got underway at the Arena Pernambuco

Where the first half transpired slowly - to say the least. Greece dug in firmly in their half, with defender Jose Cholevas keeping Costa Rica forward and captain Bryan Ruiz off his feet and away from the goal

Ruiz protested a seeming foul to no avail

Greece forward Dimitris Salpingidis battled it out with Costa Rica midfielder Christian Bolanos in a rare trip up the pitch

While Sepp continued to quietly plot world domination from the luxury box

Greece defender Konstantinos Manolas kept Costa Rica's star forward Joel Campbell from creating anything special

While Greece actually had the only real chance of the half, when forward Dimitrios Salpingidis got a shot on goal that just bounced off the shin of Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas. Greece, surely, should have scored on the play, although it was not to be

Costa Rica fans watching the match in San Jose kept hope alive, though, as their side entered the half-time break drawn scoreless with a stingy Greece

Costa Rica pretty much immediately made something happen in the second, when Ruiz took advantage of a sneaky ball that rolled by a transfixed Greece defence and keeper, who couldn't seem to locate the thing at all

Ruiz celebrated putting Costa Rica up 1-0 at 52' netting their first score which was also their first shot on target

The Ticos suffered a blow at 66' though, when defender Oscar Duarte was sent off with a red card for his second unwise challenge of the match

Navas contemplated his Costa Rica's plight, as their ten-man side would have to hold Greece scoreless for the final 20 minutes

And he almost did it. But then, at 90 +1' Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored another saving grace shot for his country

The player celebrated giving Greece an equaliser and forcing a tired and weary Costa Rica side to continue on into extra time

Yet, neither squad could find a goal in the next 30 minutes. Costa Rica sat on while awaiting the impending penalty shootout

In the end, it was Navas who provided the decisive save on Greece's fourth shot, off the foot of substitute forward Theofanis Gekas

Costa Rica defender Michael Umana then converted his side's fifth, providing with what seemed at times like an impossible victory

The Ticos celebrated their amazing win, which ended with a 1(5)-1(3) score. They will face Holland on 5 July in Costa Rica's first ever trip to a World Cup quarterfinal

Gallery: World Cup - Day 18

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