Global Courant
Substitute Annabelle Chukwu scored twice in extra time on Sunday to send Canada to next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 5-3 comeback win over Costa Rica in the third-place match at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship.
Kayla Briggs dispossessed a Costa Rican defender and Ella Ottey sent a perfect cross to an unmarked Chukwu coming home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in the 101st minute. Chukwu had come off the bench to open the second half and had a series of scoring chances, hitting the post with one of them before delivering the go-ahead goal.
The 16-year-old from Ottawa added an insurance goal in the 121st minute, curling a shot past the sprawling Genesis Perez.
The defending champion United States faced Mexico in the championship game later on Sunday, with both already having their World Cup tickets booked.
The two finalists and third place in the eight-team CONCACAF Tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Trailing 3–2, Canada equalized in the 74th minute with a lashing out Olivia Smith encroaching in a low cross from Briggs before colliding with the goal post. It was Smith’s fourth goal of the tournament.
With the score tied 2–2 in the sixth minute of stoppage time of the first half, Costa Rica’s Josselyn Briceno scored from a spectacular free kick taken from over 40 yards out. Canadian goalkeeper Faith Fenwick, who is 5ft 7in tall, got her hands on the descending moon shot but only managed to ricochet the ball into the roof of the goal.
The Canadians had chances to take the lead late in the second half, but were unable to convert them. And there were more scoring chances in extra time, with a header from substitute Jaime Perrault wide.
Halfway with 3-2 down
Briceno attempted two more long shots early in extra time, but Fenwick grabbed one and the other flew just high.
Florianne Jourde and Ottey also scored for Canada, which trailed 3-2 at halftime.
Smith (two caps) has played for the Canadian senior side. Chukwu and Ottey were called to camp last year but have yet to make their senior debuts.
Marian Solano and Sheika Scott also scored for Costa Rica, which fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 behind.
The Canadians had qualified for eight of the 10 previous FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups, missing out in 2010 and 2018. Canada was runner-up to the Americans in 2002 when it hosted the event, which was then an under-19 competition. The USA also won the U-20 World Cup in 2008 and 2012.
Costa Rica qualified for the 2014, 2014 and 2022 U-20 World Cups, never progressing beyond the group stage.
It was 30C, it felt like a steamy 38, for the 12pm local start at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez. The game was interrupted in both halves for drinking breaks.
Ottey opened the scoring for Canada in the 16th minute. Perez flew through the air and dove to clear a Rosa Maalouf cross, only to see the ball fall to Ottey, who neatly controlled the ball with her thigh before launching a shot that ricocheted off a defender.
Jourde converts low shot
Eight minutes later, Solano equalized and deftly cleared space at the edge of the box to escape a defender and make a left-footed shot that beat a diving Fenwick.
Canada took the lead in the 27th minute after a pass from Smith, who had pulled a Costa Rican’s jersey, put Jourde behind the defence. The midfielder from St-Hubert, Que., shoved a low shot past Perez.
Smith was brought down by Briceno in the Costa Rican penalty area in the 33rd minute, with a video review eventually confirming a penalty. But Canada captain Smith shot the penalty low and wide.
After video review, Costa Rica were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute after Veronica Matarrita was caught by Clare Logan’s leg as she tried to untwist. Matarrita took full advantage of the contact and dramatically tumbled to the turf.
Scott made no mistake with the penalty and found the corner of goal in stoppage time to tie the game at 2–2 with her sixth goal of the tournament.
Canada coach Cindy Tye sent in Briggs, Chukwu and Jadea Collin to open the second half.
Canada entered the game with a 4-1-0 lead over Costa Rica in the CONCACAF under-20, with the Canadians last winning 3-1 in 2018.
Heartbreaking defeat
Tye made four chances in her starting line-up with Maalouf, Renee Watson, Ella McBride and Nyah Rose.
The Canadians lost a heartthrob to Mexico in Friday’s semi-final, beaten 2-1 by a 92nd-minute goal from Alice Soto. Costa Rica was beaten 2-1 by the USA in the other semi-final.
Canada finished second to the USA in Group A, beating Jamaica 4-0 and Panama 5-0 before losing 5-2 to the Americans.
Costa Rica finished second to Mexico in Group B.
The Canadians lost 1-0 to Mexico in the semifinals at the same venue last year before beating Puerto Rico 2-0 to finish third. The USA defeated Mexico 2-0 in the final for their seventh CONCACAF crown.
Canada won the CONCACAF Tournament in 2004 and 2008, beating the US both times and finishing runners-up to the Americans in 2006, 2012 and 2015.
