Costa Rica (3-0-0, nine points) vs. Trinidad and Tobago (2-1-0, six points)
What: CONCACAF Women's Championships; When: Friday, 4:30 p.m. (semis); Sunday (final/third place)
Where: PPL Park, Chester, Pa.; Tickets: purchase tickets; TV: FoxSports2
Parking: PPL Park approved lots open, Click here for discounted pass; Mass transit: Shuttle service to and from Chester Transportation Center
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With the Women’s World Cup expanding to 24 teams from 16, there were bound to be a few new faces in Canada next year. One of those will be the winner of Friday’s first semifinal between Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago, a battle of two countries who have never reached the Women’s World Cup.
The sentimental favorite is Trinidad and Tobago. As documented by much of the national media, Trinidad and Tobago showed up to the U.S. two weeks ago with no equipment and just $500. Head coach Randy Valdrum – a volunteer – pleaded for help on Twitter, resulting in an outpouring of financial support.
But success was hardly guaranteed and now they’re just one win away from becoming the first Caribbean team to ever reach the Women’s World Cup. In addition to giving the United States its toughest game by far, they’ve won a pair of games thanks to stingy defense and excellent play from goalkeeper Kimika Forbes. Forbes made 11 saves alone against the U.S., and was also shutting out Haiti before being sent off in the 66th minute. Offensively, Kennya Cordner has scored two of their three goals and is tied for second in the tournament with shots (13).
Costa Rica swept through Group B, including a win over Mexico, and although they’ve also never been to the World Cup, they’ve been this close before. In 2010, they made the CONCACAF semifinals in a similar situation, needing just one win to get the 2011 World Cup, but a 4-0 loss to Canada in the semifinals, followed by 3-0 loss to the United States in the third place match, eliminated them from contention.
They’re led by the lethal forward combination of Carolina Venegas and Raquel Rodriguez Cedeño, who have each scored three goals.
Both semifinal winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup and play each other for the CONCACAF Championship. The losers will play a do-or-die third place match with the game’s winner securing the third and final spot at next year’s tournament.
How they got here
Costa Rica: They started group play with probably the biggest surprise thus far in the tournament by defeating Mexico in their opener, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Venegas. They eked out another one-goal win in their second game, defeating Jamaica 2-1 thanks to Rodriguez Cedeno, who broke the tie in the 86th minute. They then finished off a perfect group play with a 6-1 win over Martinque.
Trinidad and Tobago: If Costa Rica’s win over Mexico was the shock of the tournament, Trinidad and Tobago’s tight 1-0 loss to the U.S. was probably second – at least at the time. But the Soca Princesses have turned into the tournament’s darlings, grabbing back-to-back one-goal wins over Haiti (1-0) and Guatemala (2-1) to qualify with six points. The two goals allowed were tied for the second best during group play.
Top goalscorer
CRC: Rodriguez Cedeño, Venegas (three).
TRI: Cordner (two).
FIFA World Ranking
CRC: 40
TRI: 46
World Cup appearances
CRC: 0
TRI: 0
