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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Saudy Rosales gave Costa Rica the early lead and Wendy Acosta added the insurance in the second half to give Costa Rica a 2-0 victory over Cuba on Thursday in the opening game of CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying.
Seeking their first berth in a world championship, the Ticas dominated possession and limited Cuba to a handful of chances to take their first step toward the semifinals and a chance at a trip to London.
Rosales put Costa Rica ahead in the 12th minute and Acosta doubled in the 54th, both finishing well-worked series of passes.
Cuba didn't manage a shot until the 19th minute and created few opportunities, but Costa Rica twice had to save balls off the line to preserve the shutout.
Costa Rica had all the possession early and jumped ahead when Marianne Ugalde served a long ball from her half of the field down the right side. Cuba captain Yutmila Galindo lunged to intercept but missed, enabling the ball to skip past where Carolina Venegas was able to chase it down.
Nearing the end line, she cut a short low cross to the edge of the goal box and into the path of Rosales, who volleyed it inside the far post past Cuban keeper Lucylena Martinez.
Costa Rica started the second half just as quickly, generating a corner within the first two minutes and converting when Mariela Campos played an angled ball behind Cuban defender Yoanis Linares, and Acosta ran onto it to finish with a touch of her left foot.
The Ticas nearly had a third in the 63rd when Raquel Rodriguez turned with space and time from 25 meters and put a shot off the crossbar.
While struggling to create chances, Cuba twice seriously threatened.
With Julieth Arias in Costa Rica's goal for the injured Dinnia Diaz, who was ruled out last week after not having not fully recovered from knee surgery, Cuba appeared to want to challenge the untested keeper.
Cuba was able break quickly down the right in the 19th minute when Yezenia Gallardo fed Rachael Pelaez.
Pelaez was able to serve a short ball to an unmarked Jessica Pupo in front, but her shot was blocked on the line by a well-positioned Ugalde.
Similarly, an exchange of passes between Gallardo and Yaremis Fuentes sent the former in on Arias in the 63rd. But Arias came off her line to block the initial try and Fuentes second attempt off the rebound was headed off the line by Fabiola Sanchez.
"We practice that if someone goes one way, you cover that spot," Sanchez said. "In this case, that's what we know that in the end, no matter what you have to cover the goal because that's the most important."
Cuba will try to rebound on Saturday against Canada, while Costa Rica will take on Haiti.
"Whatever team it is, we have to play the way we practice," Sanchez said. "That's the way we've been taught. Now we have to make sure that we block the ball and we play together."
