Costa Rica's women's soccer team succumbs to a late goal rush by Canada, losing 4-1 in a friendly match.
Canada's Women's Soccer Team Roars Back Against Resilient Costa Rica, Securing a Thrilling 4-1 Victory
Toronto - A dismal start turned into a jubilant finish as late goals from Shelina Zadorsky, Holly Ward, Zara Chavoshi, and Emma Regan propelled Canada to a spectacular come-from-behind victory of 4-1 over Costa Rica in an international friendly match on Friday.
The goals were scored in quick succession between the 70th and 86th minutes, giving the eighth-ranked Canadians a much-needed answer to their opponent, Costa Rica, ranked 43rd in the world. The win offered an intriguing preview of things to come, with a first Canada goal apiece for Chavoshi and Regan, a second for Ward, and Annabelle Chukwu's senior debut, the under-20 captain and an 18-year-old star on the rise.
A passionate gathering of 10,105 spectators cheered Canada on at BMO Field. Despite the Canadians maintaining a whopping 81% possession in the first half, they found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break.
"I wasn't pleased with our first-half performance at all," stated Canada coach Casey Stoney, flanked by her two daughters. "We were sloppy with the ball, made needless technical errors, and lacked positional discipline, which gave Costa Rica an edge."
Changes in playstyle and talent from the bench, rotating veterans with promising young stars, helped turn the tide.
"Character and commitment are the keys to success in the second half," said Stoney. "We need to stay focused and committed to what we want to do."
As the Canadians head to Washington, D.C., for a sterner test against the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday, Stoney emphasized, "We face tougher challenges ahead, so we must start strong. If we don't, we could find ourselves struggling."
After a few desperate attempts at the Canadian goal, the deadlock was momentarily broken in the 27th minute when Costa Rica's Maria Paula Salas scored off a free kick. Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failed to get a hand on the well-placed delivery from captain Katherine Alvarado, leaving an unmarked Salas to head the ball home at the far post. Zara Chavoshi, who had committed the foul leading to the free kick, was too late to stop her opposing attacker.
As the Canadians huddled in front of their goal following the score, hopes still burned bright. "I thought it was merely a setback, not the end of the game," Stoney commented later. "We showed character and determination to fight back and clinch the victory."
The Canadians' spirit shone through in the second half, with three more goals being tallied in a breathtaking display of attack. Zadorsky sealed the first goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, reaching her career total to seven goals in 112 appearances. A brilliant effort from substitute Mimi Alidou led to the spot-kick, after she was controversially taken down by the Costa Rican defender, Fabiola Villalobos.
Ward made it 2-1 in the 74th minute, displaying her shot-making prowess with a superb turn and curl just outside the box, following aHeader taken by Chukwu from a cross by Jade Rose. The goal represented Ward's second score in three appearances for Canada.
Chavoshi cemented the Canadian lead to 3-0 in the 82nd minute, following up on a headed corner for her first-ever strike for Canada in her second appearance. Regan's elegant shot from just outside the penalty box in the 86th minute clinched the 4-1 victory for Canada.
Reflecting on the game, Stoney remarked, "I thought we scored some fantastic goals, and we could have created more opportunities, but I'm proud of the way we battled and fought for each other on the field."
In the recent history between these nations, Canada has a clear dominance, having won all 17 previous matches against Costa Rica, outscoring them 52-6 overall. However, this time around, Canada had to work hard to emerge victorious, leaving fans and coaches optimistic about their prospects for future games, particularly their highly-anticipated match against the reigning world champions, the United States.
Delivery of a goal from a well-placed corner kick resulted in Zara Chavoshi's first-ever strike for Canada, adding to their impressive 4-1 victory over Costa Rica in the international friendly match. The exciting display of attack in the second half, characterized by quick succession of goals, provides a promising preview for Canada's upcoming soccer competition, notably against the top-ranked U.S. in Washington, D.C.
