EDINBURG, Texas -- Cuba will make its debut in the group stage of the 2018 concacaf Women's Championship against Costa Rica on Friday night.

The Group B match is scheduled to kick off at H-E-B Park at 6 p.m. ET.

Under coach Reniel Bonora, the Cubans qualified for the final round by finishing third in the Caribbean qualifying round behind Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

Maria Perez led Cuba with nine goals, including four tallies in the last three matches of the final round.

The Cubans were particularly dangerous during the second half of games in the final Caribbean round as they scored eight of their 12 goals during that juncture.

The Costa Ricans, coached by Amelia Valverde, are trying to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup, in France in 2019, for the second consecutive time. Costa Rica was runner-up to the United States at the 2014 CWC.

Midfielder Raquel Rodriguez led the team with four goals as it finished first in the Central American qualifying. Melissa Herrera (three goals) and veteran Shirley Cruz and Cristin Granados tallied two goals apiece.

Costa Rica has become a power among Concacaf women’s national teams, having made the most CWC appearances (six) among Central American countries while earning 12 wins.

Canada and Jamaica will meet in the second game of the doubleheader.