GUATEMALA CITY - Adriana Leon converted one of her several chances in the first half and defending champion Canada opened the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Leon, the third-youngest player on the Canadian roster, turned unmarked in the middle of the area in the 28th minute and easily beat goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia for the only goal the Canadians needed.

The match kicked off the 16-game, 11-day event that will crown the confederation champion and chose the region's three teams for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in July in Germany.

Costa Rica, which has finished fourth twice before and just missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, had an equal share of possession early but was limited to shots from distance that were blocked by Canada's picket fence of defenders.

Canada created the more quality chances early, including one by Leon in the eighth minute where her second touch got away from her and enabled Tapia to smother the ball.

Taylor Patterson put a header off a cross from Larua Chenard just wide from six meters in the 22nd minute, but six minutes later the Canadians finally prevailed.

Rachel Lamarre broke free down the right side of the penalty area, drawing three defenders before she laid the ball back to the top of the area. Gina Pacheco one-timed the ball into Leon, who with nobody close and standing 10 meters from goal, turned and blasted a right-footed shot as Costa Rican captain Katherine Alvarado arrived late in an attempt to close her down.

Costa Rica had its chances, including its best when Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno worked her way in from the right side, dribbled just inside the area before unleashing a left-footed effort that Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc had to dive to push wide onto her left post.

LeBlanc also had to push wide a free kick by Alvarado from 30 meters in the 38th minute.

Canada, a two-time champion eventually took control in the second half, maintaining more possession and limiting Costa Rica's opportunities.

Las Ticas managed a late push in the final 15 minutes, nearly scoring an equalizer in the 85th minute when Fabiola Sanchez looped a header off Marianne Ugalde's free kick that ticked the outside of the right post.