Canada rallies to beat Costa Rica, qualify for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
Substitute Annabelle Chukwu scored twice in additional time Sunday to ship Canada to subsequent 12 months’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 5-3 comeback win over Costa Rica within the third-place match on the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship.
Kayla Briggs dispossessed a Costa Rican defender and Ella Ottey despatched in an ideal cross for an unmarked Chukwu to knock house within the one hundred and first minute. Chukwu had come off the bench to open the second half and had a string of scoring alternatives, hitting the submit with one in every of them earlier than delivering the go-ahead purpose.
The 16-year-old from Ottawa added an insurance coverage purpose within the 121st minute, curling in a shot previous the outstretched Genesis Perez.
The defending champion United States confronted Mexico within the championship sport later Sunday, with each having already booked their ticket to the World Cup.
The two finalists and third-place aspect on the eight-team CONCACAF match will characterize North and Central America and the Caribbean on the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Down 3-2, Canada tied it up within the 74th minute with a lunging Olivia Smith poking in a low cross from Briggs earlier than crashing into the goalpost. It was Smith’s fourth purpose of the match.
Tied 2-2 within the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Costa Rica’s Josselyn Briceno scored from a spectacular free kick taken from greater than 40 yards out. Canadian ‘keeper Faith Fenwick, who stands 5 foot seven, received her palms to the dipping moon shot however solely managed to deflect the ball into the roof of the purpose.
The Canadians had probabilities late within the second half to drag forward however couldn’t convert. And there have been extra scoring alternatives in additional time, with substitute Jaime Perrault’s header flashing extensive.
Briceno tried two extra long-range photographs early in additional time however Fenwick gathered one in and the opposite flew simply excessive.
Florianne Jourde and Ottey additionally scored for Canada, which trailed 3-2 on the half.
Smith (two caps) has performed for the Canadian senior aspect. Chukwu and Ottey had been known as into camp final 12 months however have but to make their senior debut.
Marian Solano and Sheika Scott additionally scored for Costa Rica, which fought again from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.
The Canadians had certified for eight of the ten earlier FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups, lacking out in 2010 and 2018. Canada was runner-up to the Americans in 2002 when it hosted the occasion, which was then an under-19 competitors. The U.S. additionally received the U-20 World Cup in 2008 and 2012.
Costa Rica certified for the 2014, 2014 and 2022 U-20 World Cups, by no means making it previous the group stage.
It was 30 levels Celsius, feeling like a steamy 38 levels, for the midday kickoff at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez. The sport paused for hydration breaks in each halves.
Ottey opened the scoring for Canada within the sixteenth minute. Perez flew by way of the air, diving to punch a Rosa Maalouf cross away, solely to see the ball drop to Ottey, who managed the ball neatly along with her thigh earlier than launching a shot that deflected in off a defender.
Solano tied it up eight minutes later, deftly making room on the fringe of the penalty field to flee a defender and curl a left-footed shot that beat a diving Fenwick.
Canada went forward within the twenty seventh minute after a go from Smith, who had a Costa Rican tugging at her jersey, put Jourde behind the defence. The midfielder from St-Hubert, Que., slid a low shot previous Perez.
Smith was taken down by Briceno within the Costa Rican penalty field within the thirty third minute, with video overview ultimately confirming a penalty. But Smith, the Canada captain, slotted the penalty low and extensive.
After video overview, Costa Rica was awarded a penalty within the forty third minute after Veronica Matarrita was caught by Clare Logan’s leg as she tried to twist free. Matarrita made the a lot of the contact, tumbling dramatically to the turf.
Scott made no mistake with the spot kick, discovering the nook of the purpose in stoppage time to tie the sport at 2-2 along with her sixth purpose of the match.
Canada coach Cindy Tye despatched on Briggs, Chukwu and Jadea Collin to open the second half.
Canada got here into the match with a 4-1-0 edge over Costa Rica in CONCACAF under-20 play with the Canadians profitable 3-1 final day trip in 2018.
Tye made 4 probabilities to her beginning lineup with Maalouf, Renee Watson, Ella McBride and Nyah Rose slotting in.
The Canadians misplaced a heartbreaker to Mexico in Friday’s semifinal, overwhelmed 2-1 0n a 92nd-minute purpose by Alice Soto. Costa Rica was overwhelmed 2-1 by the U.S. within the different semifinal.
Canada completed runner-up to the U.S. in Group A, downing Jamaica 4-0 and Panama 5-0 earlier than falling 5-2 to the Americans.
Costa Rica was second to Mexico in Group B.
The Canadians misplaced 1-0 to Mexico in final 12 months’s semifinal on the similar venue earlier than blanking Puerto Rico 2-0 to complete third. The U.S. beat Mexico 2-0 within the ultimate for its seventh CONCACAF crown.
Canada received the CONCACAF match in 2004 and 2008, defeating the U.S. each instances, and was runner-up to the Americans in 2006, 2012 and 2015.
