Ticas Fall to Area Champs

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The Costa Rican National Women's team fell Friday night to the US Women's team, which beat hostesses Canada on Sunday to claim the CONCACAF area championship.  Both Canada and the US qualified for the London Olympic Games.  Costa Rica lost 3-0 to the US, playing considerably better than in the qualification rounds, while Canada was beaten 4-0. 

While Costa Rica was unable to qualify, the Ticas showed a good deal of improvement over the course of the tournament.  In their final match, local fans and media congratulated the team for showing grit. The US media (that covered the tourney) gave credit to the Costa Ricans for slowing down the US team, which scored 38 goals in the tournament and allowed none. The US team controlled the match from the start, scoring at the 15 minute mark when Tobbin Heath picked up a loose ball in the area and put it home.  However, the Ticas did not give up, and even made it interesting pressuring the US midfield and forcing the defense to protect the shutout.  The Ticas even had a clear chance to score in the 27th minute, when Daniela Cruz put a shot from 25 meters out off the post.  The US practically iced the game in the second half, when Carli Lloyd scored after intercepting a weak clearance by the Costa Rican defense in the 71st minute.  The final US goal was by new star Alex Morgan, who put in the 3rd goal in the 89th minute once the match was decided.

While some fans expressed disappoint in online chats and comments, most expressed admiration for the ladies' team, recognizing that most are semi-professional players who work at other jobs as well as training and playing in the local women's tournament.  They could not be expected to play up to the level of a US or Canadian team that is either professional or full time athletes, and many fans called on the Costa Rican Men's team to take notice and put in an equal amount of effort when playing for the national team -- La Sele.

On Sunday night the US team went on to beat Canada 4-0, in a match that was less suspenseful than the Costa Rica game, even though the 25,000 plus fans cheered Canada on.  At least through the first 30 minutes, by which time the US was winning 3-0.