Costa Rica Ends Canada’s U20 World Cup Dream
Canadian hopes are dashed
Canada’s women’s U-20 team lost 0:1 to Costa Rica in the match for third place at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. Canada lost on a goal scored by Costa Rica captain Katherine Alvarado on a free kick in the 19th minute.
“We played a good game, but at the end of the day, you have to put the ball in the back net,” said coach Carolina Morace.
Canada maintained the bulk of possession and kept pushing forward throughout the match, but was unable to score the equalizer. As such, Canada finishes fourth at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship and did not qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010.
“We played our hearts out,” said captain Chelsea Stewart.
Costa Rica’s lone goal was scored on a free kick fired from down the left side. Alvarado ignored her teammates in the box and went straight for goal with a shot that sailed above the defence and into the net.
Down 0-1, Canada countered quickly and pushed Costa Rica back into its own end. Unfortunately, Canada could not penetrate Costa Rica’s penalty area with enough regularity to threaten for goal.
Canada’s best chance in the first half was a shot from outside the box by Bryanna McCarthy. The shot was almost on target, but landed on top of the netting instead of below the bar.
In the second half, Canada had plenty of possession, but could not connect for the equalizing goal. It had a decent chance in the 47th minute with a cross from the right side, but substitute Julie Casselman’s header was stopped by Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia.
Canada kept trying to build its play to get behind the Costa Rica defence, but could not break the opponent’s back line.
Finally in the 84th minute, Canada created a wonderful opportunity thanks to the hard work by forward Chloé Malette. With Costa Rica trolling the ball down the right side, Malette came in from behind to steal the ball and then carry it towards the box. She was upended just before she reached the penalty area, thus winning Canada a valuable free kick.
McCarthy took the free kick from the right side with eight white shirts in and around the box. Chénard came in and connected for the header, but goalkeeper Tapia stopped the ball on the line.
Canada continued to push in the dying minutes, but could not connect for that elusive goal. The final whistle blew with Canada on the wrong side of an 0:1 loss.
Yet again, Canada started the game with a new formation, of note this time without injured centre back Lexi Marton. Canada’s starting XI featured Cynthia Leblanc in goal, Vanessa Legault-Cordisco at left back, Shannon Woeller and Bahar Sansar at centre back, Molly Allen at right back, Christabel Oduro at left midfield, Chelsea Stewart and Laura Chénard at centre midfield, Bryanna McCarthy at right midfield, and Rehana Murani and Chloé Malette up front.
Julie Casselman replaced Oduro in the 20th minute, Adriana Leon replaced Murani in the 46th minute, and Gina Pacheco replaced Casselman in the 66th minute.
Canada finishes the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship with a record of three wins and two losses. It finished fourth behind Costa Rica, Mexico and CONCACAF champion USA.
