Costa Rica snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw against South Korea in the Women’s World Cup on Saturday to keep their dream of a place in the last 16 alive.

Karla Villalobos got the equaliser in the final minute of the game in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium to deny Korea an historic first World Cup win.

Brazil lead Group E with a maximum six points from two games after beating Spain 1-0 earlier to book their berth in the knockout round.

Costa Rica are second on two points with Spain and South Korea both on one.

“We are the Cinderella of this tournament,” said coach Amelia Valverde of her 37th-ranked side who take on Brazil in their final group game next Wednesday.

Costa Rica’s men’s team reached a surprise quarter-final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and now their women have hopes of doing likewise.

“We are showing that Costa Rican football, whether it is the men’s or women’s has something to show and is growing,” said Valverde.

South Korea coach Yoon Deok-Ye lamented his side losing a game which they had controlled for long periods.

“We did not lose but had an equaliser at the end so the atmosphere is as if we’ve lost,” said Yoon.

“It’s a shame because there were many Korean fans cheering for us.

“We need to give our absolute best to pull everything out in our last game with Spain.”

Forward Melissa Herrera had gotten Costa Rica off the mark on 17 minutes, with the 18-year-old’s shot being confirmed by goal-line technology.

Korea equalised when Ji So-Yun converted a 21st-minuted penalty after Kwon Hah-Nul was fouled in the box by midfielder Cristin Granados.

And the Koreans led minutes later when Kang Yu-Mi delivered a perfect cross from the right allowing Jeon Ga-Eul to glance home a header.

Both sides missed a string of chances in the second half with Costa Rica’s Lixy Rodriguez long-range effort hitting the goal frame.

Korea looked to have sealed the three points only for Villalobos to burst forward on 89 minutes, controlling the ball well and triumphantly finishing off past Kim Jung-Mi in the Korean goal.

“The players must recover now and gain morale before our next game,” said Yoon. “We got one point, and in out next match that one point will be decisive.”

In Wednesday’s final round of games Spain play South Korea and Brazil take on Costa Rica, with the top two teams in each group advance to the knock-out round along with the four best third-place finishers.