The Canadian women’s national team will look to top Costa Rica on Wednesday to make it three wins in three group-stage games at the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
Last time out, Bev Priestman’s side displayed persistence, finesse and technicality, taking down the Paraguayans 4-0 thanks to an Adriana Leon hat trick and an Olivia Smith firecracker. However, Las Ticas had a strong showing of their own last Sunday, edging El Salvador 2-0 thanks to a crafty Priscila Chinchilla brace. With 90 minutes separating these two teams from the summit of Group C, the match will surely be filled with passion and drama.
Read on for everything you need to know about Wednesday evening’s match.
Quick hits
Wednesday’s game, held at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, kicks off at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
Canada: Canada is back to its winning ways since last summer’s disappointing World Cup. The remainder of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup is a time for Les Rouges to tune up and experiment with player combinations ahead of the SheBelieves Cup in April and the Paris Olympics in July and August.
FIFA ranking: No. 10
Current form: After thrashing El Salvador and Paraguay, Canada advanced to the quarterfinals and will want to finish the group stage strong with another win.
Group C prediction: Group favourite
Costa Rica: With five wins in its last 22 games, Costa Rica is a hot-and-cold side. However, its star striker, Chinchilla, is on form and veterans Rocky Rodriguez, Daniela Cruz and Daniela Solera make up the best side the country has seen in some time.
FIFA ranking: No. 43
Current form: Costa Rica sits second in Group C (1-0 loss to Paraguay, 2-0 win over El Salvador) with three points and a better goal differential than Paraguay. However, that could all change with a Las Ticas loss and a Paraguay win in the final group stage matches.
Group C prediction: Could finish second or third
Head-to-head
Since 2008, Canada and Costa Rica have faced off 11 times. Canada has won 10, while Costa Rica has one win.
The most recent matchup came in July 2022 for Women’s World Cup qualification (CONCACAF), where Canada earned a 2-0 win. Jessie Fleming got Canada off to a great start with a one-touch goal in the first five minutes of the match. Despite missing a handful of opportunities, Sophie Schmidt (now retired from the national team) added the second with a curling shot in the 69th minute. Costa Rica’s attacking prowess was shut down by veteran defenders Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles.
Canada needs to be level-headed
It would be easy for Canada to become inflated after 6-0 and 4-0 wins, so it must stay level-headed. Sure, Les Rouges have already advanced to the quarterfinals, but the work is far from over. Anything less than a commanding performance could set Canada back a peg mentally, which has been a problem in the past. Priestman’s side doesn’t do well if momentum is lost and can sometimes let the pressure of the moment win. However, Wednesday’s match is the perfect opportunity to leave old habits behind and continue its trajectory of international dominance.
Against El Salvador, it took Canada only three minutes to open the scoring. That’s unlikely to happen this time around, as Costa Rica is technically stronger and will park the bus by having more players behind the ball to protect its net. Canada must remain patient and diligent, taking advantage of quick passes into space and working to break down the Costa Rican backline.
However, there’s something to be said for positively channelling winning energy. Instead of taking its foot off the gas, knowing Canada is expected to top the group, its current form should be used as motivation and desire to reach even greater heights.
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-586324” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”)
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-586324” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6347663142112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/6347663142112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/video/concacaf-womens-gold-cup-highlights-canada-4-paraguay-0/”
});
});
var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-860259” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);
/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6347663142112&cmsid=384”;
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”)
if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}
var DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”)
if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=” + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=\”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );
$( document ).one( “ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-860259” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6347663142112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/6347663142112-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/video/concacaf-womens-gold-cup-highlights-canada-4-paraguay-0/”
});
});
Costa Rica must step up its attacking game
To put it simply, José Benito Rubido does not have a bad squad. Historically, Costa Rica’s lack of wins comes down to playing powerhouse opponents (such as Japan and Spain at last summer’s World Cup), and small breaks in concentration leading to conceding or missing attacking opportunities.
In the last two games, Las Ticas conceded one goal and scored two. This can be positive, as its backline remains strong (which is important against a relentless Canadian side), but if Costa Rica wants to have a chance against Canada, it has to find the net. During this Cup, Rubido’s attackers have shown positive bursts of creativity, technicality and energy by flying up the flanks and cutting inside toward goal. But the issues come with finishing, and Chinchilla cannot be the only player relied upon to score. Priestman will have a plan to shut down Chinchilla, and if Costa Rica’s only goal-scorer of the tournament is out of the picture, it’s safe to say its chances are slim.
Rodriguez is the next logical player to step up on the attack. The 30-year-old is experienced at high-level tournaments and has scored 55 goals in 100 appearances for Las Ticas. If Rodriguez can involve herself more on the break, that could make a positive difference.
How will Canada and Costa Rica line up?
It’s unclear who Canada will play. However, considering that Canada has already advanced to the knockout stage, we can guess that Priestman will use this match as an opportunity for certain players to rest and give second-stringers or youngsters the chance to bag some minutes. Priestman will probably keep her tried-and-true 3-4-3 formation, as it’s been successful so far in the Cup.
We could see Arsenal’s Sabrina D’Angelo return to goal to reprise her clean sheet from Thursday, followed by Harvard’s Jade Rose, Lyon’s Vanessa Gilles and West Ham’s Shelina Zadorsky completing the backline. In midfield, Gunner Cloé Lacasse, the Seattle Reign’s Quinn and Portland Thorns’ Fleming will likely start, but it’s a toss-up whether Washington Spirit’s Gabby Carle or Chelsea’s Ashley Lawrence will complete the quartet. Up front, we could see Sporting CP’s Smith and Aston Villa’s Leon get the start, with either Seattle Reign’s Jordyn Huitema or Leicester City’s Deanne Rose finishing the eleven.
Although Rubido has played with 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations this tournament, it’s possible he could choose the latter against Canada for its defensive focus. This time out, Costa Rica will want to play its best lineup, which begins with veteran Solera (Atlas) between the sticks. On the backline, defensive mainstays María Elizondo (Deportivo Saprissa) and Valeria del Campo (C.F. Monterrey) will get the nod, followed by Cruz (Atlas) and Mariana Benavides (Saprissa). In midfield, we could expect to see Emilie Valenciano (Asheville City SC), Rodriguez (Angel City FC), Gloriana Villalobos (Saprissa), Alexa Herrera (no current club) and, of course, Chinchilla (Pachuca). Sheika Scott (Alajuelense) will likely take her usual place up front.
Player to watch for Canada: Olivia Smith
Against El Salvador, the 19-year-old came off the bench and notched her first international goal and assist. Smith’s commanding performance earned her the start on Sunday over Paraguay, where the attacking midfielder scored once again thanks to her quick thinking by hammering home a loose ball in the box. Although Leon might have gotten the credit on Sunday with her hat trick, Smith is solidifying herself as a bright, young talent for Priestman’s side.
Player to watch for Costa Rica: Priscilla Chinchilla
Fresh off a brace against El Salvador on Sunday, the Pachuca star is undoubtedly Costa Rica’s player to watch. In 2020, the 22-year-old joined Scottish Premier League champions Glasgow City, where she earned 42 goals in 52 appearances and was dubbed the PFA Scotland Women’s Player of the Year in 2021-22. Since transferring to Liga MX Femenil last year, the attacking midfielder has found the net four times in 11 games. Despite Chinchilla’s small stature, she’s speedy, tough and resilient on the ball. The Costa Rican is also a master at drawing fouls, which is something Canada will need to manage on Wednesday.
