Canada scores four late goals to defeat Costa Rica 4-1 in women's soccer friendly

Winnipeg Free Press

a day ago

TORONTO – Late goals by Shelina Zadorsky, Holly Ward, Zara Chavoshi and Emma Regan helped Canada to a 4-1 comeback win over a resolute Costa Rica in an international women's friendly Friday.
The goals came in the 70th, 74th, 82nd and 86th minute as the eighth-ranked Canadians finally found an answer for No. 43 Costa Rica.
A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered Canada on at BMO Field. But while the Canadian women had 81 per cent possession in the first half, they were unable to unlock the Costa Rican defence and went into the break trailing 1-0.
Some desperate Costa Rican defending and errant Canadian attacking kept it that way until the 70th minute when Zadorsky, from the penalty spot, ended the Canada misfiring. It was goal No. 7 in 112 appearances for the veteran centre back.
Substitute Mimi Alidou won the penalty, taken down by Costa Rican defender Fabiola Villalobos.
Ward made it 2-1 in the 74th minute, turning and curling in a lovely shot after fellow substitute Annabelle Chukwu, an 18-year-old Canadian youth international star in her first senior appearance, headed a Jade Rose cross her way
It was a second goal in three appearances for Ward, a 21-year-old Vancouver Rise forward who became the first Northern Super League player to score for Canada — in the 3-1 win over Haiti on June 3 in Montreal.
Chavoshi made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner for her first Canada goal in her second appearance. Regan's first international goal, an elegant shot from just outside the penalty box, padded the lead in the 86th minute
The Canadians now head to Washington, D.C., for a high-profile friendly with the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday.
Costa Rica's Maria Paula Salas opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute off a free kick. Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failed to get a hand to the well-flighted delivery from captain Katherine Alvarado, allowing an unmarked Salas to head the ball home at the far post.
Chavoshi committed the foul that led to the free kick, pulling back Priscila Chinchilla after the Costa Rican attacker nutmegged her just outside the Canadian penalty box.
The goal prompted a Canadian team huddle in front of goal, one of several on the night.
Canada had won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, outscoring the Central Americans 52-6. But they needed a 104th-minute goal to win 1-0 the last time they met, in March 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Los Angeles.
Canada had blanked Costa Rica 3-0 in the group stage at the tournament.
Prior to the game, coach Casey Stoney was quick to stress before the game that her players were not looking past the Central Americans to the U.S.
'There will be absolutely no complacency,' she said, noting Costa Rica had held the Americans to a scoreless draw last summer.
Stoney was true to her word, fielding a strong lineup that included Sheridan, Zadorsky, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens and Julia Grosso.
In all, the starters had a combined 756 caps going into the game.
It was 22 C, feeling like 26 C at kickoff at BMO Field.
There were danger signs early as Alvarado banged a shot off the goalpost in the fourth minute. But Canada began to find its feet, backing up Costa Rica, which was playing in a 4-5-1 formation.
Canada had its chances with Leon angling a shot just wide in the 33rd minute. Four minutes later, Costa Rican goalkeeper Noelia Bermúdez made a diving save to deny Grosso.
Canada could have had three goals in first-half stoppage time with headers from Leon and Zadorsky and a Fleming shot all missing the target. Costa Rica lost midfielder Alexandra Pinell to an injury just before the break.
Canada outshot Costa Rica 8-3 (3-2 in shots on target) in the first half.
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Coming off a pair of wins over No. 50 Haiti, the Canadian women came into the game 5-1-1 under Stoney, whose first games in charge were at the Pinatar Cup in Spain in February. The lone loss was a 1-0 setback at the hands of No. 32 Argentina in April in Langford, B.C. The Canadians had defeated the South Americans 3-0 four days earlier in Vancouver.
Canada was missing injured defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins and Jayde Riviere, and forwards Olivia Smith and Cloé Lacasse.
Friday's game was a special 'Pride Celebration' match, the third in as many years for the Canadian women who wore a special kit featuring Pride-themed numbers.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025