Canada edges Costa Rica to reach W Gold Cup semifinals
CANADA 1 COSTA RICA 0
LOS ANGELES — Canada is through to the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinals by the skin of its teeth.
Canada needed extra time — and a lifeline from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan in second-half stoppage time — to dispatch a stubborn Costa Rica side 1-0 Saturday and move on to the final four, against either the secondranked U.S. or No. 23 Colombia, who square off today.
Costa Rica only made it to the knockout round via a drawing of lots. But the 43rd-ranked Central Americans refused to yield to 10th-ranked Canada, whose finishing left a lot to be desired.
Substitute Evelyne Viens finally ended the deadlock in the 104th minute, heading in a looping Jesse Fleming free kick from just in front of the penalty box for her fifth Canada goal. The AS Roma forward almost scored again in the 106th minute, only to be denied by goalkeeper Daniela Solera.
Valeria del Campo had one final chance for Costa Rica, but swept her shot just high in the dying minutes of stoppage time.
Canada outshot Costa Rica 39-5 (10-1 in shots on target), with 13 corners to Costa Rica’s one, and had 65 per cent possession.
“It just felt like the ball just couldn’t cross the line,” said Canada coach Bev Priestman. “All credit to Costa Rica.”
It marked the Canadian women’s first foray into extra time since the Olympic final in Tokyo in August 2021, which ended in a penalty shootout win over Sweden.
Canada won all 16 previous meetings with Costa Rica, with a combined 51-6 edge in goals, including a 3-0 victory in group play Wednesday in Houston.
Sheridan, who had been a spectator for most of the match, made a game-saving save in second-half injury time, kicking out her right foot to deny substitute Alexa Herrerra in a rare Costa Rica attack, assisted by some statue-like Canadian defending.
“That’s just Kailen,” said Viens, a 27-year-old from L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que. “It’s typical. When she’s in goal, I know we can get a clean sheet.”
“Big players come up big in big moments,” added Priestman, whose team will next play Wednesday in San Diego.
Facing a physical Costa Rica team that packed its defence, Canada dominated play but could not finish and went into halftime tied 0-0.