EDINBURG, Texas -- Costa Rica faces an uphill battle in its quest to qualify for the 2018 Concacaf Women's Championship semifinals on Thursday night.
Not only do Las Ticas (1W-0D-1L, 3 points) must beat Group B leader Canada (2W-0D-0L, 6), they also need Jamaica (1W-0D-1L, 3) to lose to Cuba (0W-0D-2L, 0) in the opening match of the doubleheader at H-E-B Park.
The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup participants also can move on to Frisco, Texas if they draw and the Jamaicans lose or if both games end in ties. The Central Americans have a superior goal differential (plus seven to minus one) over the Caribbean side.
The Costa Ricans certainly will have their work out because they have lost to Canada in seven all-time meetings, including four CWC matches.
Costa Rica is coming off a stunning 1-0 loss to Jamaica on Monday night, which placed the side in this precarious position, after its 8-0 opening win over Cuba.
The Maple Leafs enter the match on another high note with a 12-0 triumph over the Cubans.
Adriana Leon and Jordyn Huitema finished with four goals apiece and halftime-substitute Christine Sinclair added one to give her 174 international goals. Rebecca Quinn, Deanne Rose and Diana Matheson also scored.
