Canada secured a 4-1 comeback victory against Costa Rica in a women's international friendly. The late surge, with goals in the 70th, 74th, 82nd, and 86th minutes, showcased the team's resilience after a challenging start. The match saw first goals for Zara Chavoshi and Emma Regan, a second for Holly Ward, and a senior debut for Annabelle Chukwu.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Canada struggled to break down Costa Rica's defense and trailed 1-0 at halftime. Coach Casey Stoney expressed dissatisfaction with the team's first-half performance, citing turnovers and technical errors. However, tactical adjustments and contributions from the bench sparked a turnaround.
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Shelina Zadorsky converted a penalty in the 70th minute, followed by Ward's goal in the 74th. Chavoshi and Regan added to the scoreline with goals in the 82nd and 86th minutes, respectively.
Costa Rica had taken the lead in the 27th minute through Maria Paula Salas, who scored from a free kick. The Canadian team had previously won all 17 matches against Costa Rica. The team now prepares for a more challenging match against the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday.
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
What a thrilling second half! The team showed incredible heart and determination!
Habibi
Great character shown to come back from a goal down! On to bigger and better things!
Comandante
Great to see Chavoshi, Regan, and Chukwu get their first goals and debut!! Future is bright!
Donatello
Love seeing young players get their first senior goals!! The future is bright for the Canadian women's team.
Michelangelo
Relying on late goals is a risky strategy for every match.