Latest news with #Alajuela
National Post
3 days ago
- Climate
- National Post
Mexico defeats Canada in group play at CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship
ALAJUELA — Montserrat Saldivar scored twice Monday to help defending champion Mexico defeat Canada 4-2 and finish atop Group B in a weather-interrupted game at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship. Article content Both teams had already accomplished their goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-20 World Cup by virtue of assuring themselves a top-two finish in the group with wins over Panama and Nicaragua. But topping the pool likely means avoiding the seven-time champion U.S. in the semifinal. Article content Monday's game, which started in a torrential downpour, was tied 1-1 in the 30th minute when American referee Alyssa Nichols pulled the bedraggled players from the pitch at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. Article content The game resumed some two hours 40 minutes later. The heavy rain had stopped by then but there was still some water left on the pitch, making for some difficult distribution. Article content Maria Gonzalez also scored for Mexico, which profited from an own goal by Janet Okeke. Article content Teegan Melenhorst and Annabelle Chukwu replied for Canada, which outshot Mexico 20-12 (5-4 in shots on target). Article content The eight-team CONCACAF tournament, which runs through Sunday, will send four CONCACAF sides to the 24-team FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled for September 2026 in Poland. Article content The U.S., which has already qualified for the CONCACAF semifinals at 2-0-0, wraps up Group A play Tuesday against Costa Rica (1-0-1) while Puerto Rica (0-1-1) faces Guyana (0-2-0). Article content The Americans have lost just three of 64 matches all-time at the tournament. Article content Article content Trailing 3-1 at the break, Canada sent on Chukwu, who scored three goals in the first two games of the tournament. And the 18-year-old from Ottawa did not disappoint, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the 59th minute with a header off a Melenhorst cross following a Canadian corner. Article content Chukwu, who scored three goals in Canada's opening two wins, added to her Canadian youth international scoring record, previously held by Christine Sinclair. Chukwu now has 38 goals in 40 games from the under-15 to under-20 level. Article content Chukwu, who plays collegiate soccer at Notre Dame, has been called into camp by the Canadian senior side but has yet to win a cap. Article content Mexico added an insurance goal in the 84th minute via Saldivar, who beat Canadian 'keeper Noelle Henning after a pass by Michel Fong split the Canadian defence. Article content The wet conditions made for spotty early handling and Canada went ahead in the 18th minute after an errant clearance by Mexico goalkeeper Mariangela Medina, who plays collegiate soccer at UCLA. The ball went to Melenhorst, who roofed a shot past Medina.
National Post
29-05-2025
- General
- National Post
Canada dispatches Panama in opening game of CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
Article content ALAJUELA — Anabelle Chukwu scored twice as Canada opened play at the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship on Thursday with a comfortable 7-1 win over Panama. Article content Article content The 18-year-old from Ottawa added to her Canadian youth international scoring record, previously held by Christine Sinclair. Chukwu now has 36 goals in 38 games from the under-15 to under-20 level. Article content Jadea Collin, Jeneva Hernandez Gray, Lea Larouche, Stephanie Schoeley and Liana Tarasco also scored for Canada, which led 5-1 at the half. Article content Chukwu and Hernandez Gray were substituted at halftime with the game well in hand. Article content Canada continues Group B play on Saturday against Nicaragua before facing defending champion Mexico on Monday. Article content The eight-team CONCACAF tournament, which runs through June 8 at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium in Alajuela, will send four CONCACAF sides to the 24-team FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled for September 2026, in Poland. Article content Group A features host Costa Rica, the United States, Puerto Rico and Guyana, The top two from each group will advance to the semifinals, securing World Cup qualification in the process. Article content Hernandez Gray, who plays in Portugal for Sporting CP, has one senior cap for Canada. Chukwu, who plays collegiate soccer at Notre Dame, has been called into camp by the Canadian senior side but has yet to win a cap. Article content Sherline King scored for Panama, taking advantage of a Canadian turnover to cut the deficit to 3-1 in the 24th minute. Article content Canada outshot Panama 17-1 (10-1 in shots on target) in the first half and had five corners to none for Panama with 68 percent possession. The final shot count was 30-2 (12-2 in shots on target). Article content Article content Hernandez Gray's goal, which put Canada up 2-0 in the 18th minute, was a beauty. She shifted the ball to her right to evade a defender and then, from the edge of the penalty box, fired a low shot into the corner. Article content Schoeley and Tarasco added late goals in the 85th and 93rd minute. Article content Panama had to replace injured goalkeeper Nicollete Mas just seven minutes into the game with Elsa Grant taking over. Article content The U.S. and Mexico, as the top-ranked countries in CONCACAF, skipped the qualifying round and were given direct entry to the CONCACAF championship. Canada and 23 other teams had to win their way there, with Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico also topping their groups. Article content Canada booked its ticket to the main CONCACAF tournament by winning its qualifying group with ease in February. The Canadians outscored their qualifying opposition 43-0, dispatching Dominica 22-0, Bermuda 9-0 and host Trinidad and Tobago 12-0. Article content The Dominica win was the second-largest in CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Qualifiers history, behind the Dominican Republic's 25-0 romp over the British Virgin Islands in September 2005. Article content Canada coach Cindy Tye has retained 18 players from that qualifying squad. Article content Panama went 2-0-1 in winning its qualifying group, outscoring the opposition 16-1. Article content Canada won the CONCACAF tournament in 2004 and 2008 and was runner-up to the U.S. in 2002, when the age group was under-19. The Americans are looking for their eighth title, having last won in 2020 and 2022. Article content
