Posted on January 20, 2012
VANCOUVER – Costa Rica opened the CONCACAF Olympic women’s qualifying tournament in style on Thursday night, registering a 2-0 win over Cuba at BC Place.
Sandy Rosales scored in the first half and Wendy Acosta added an insurance tally in the final 45 minutes.
The Ticas, who never have reached a world championship tournament, dominated the match and limited Cuba to a few opportunities.
Rosales gave the Central Americans the lead in the 11th minute. Acosta made it 2-0 in the 55th minute.
Costa Rica’s Marianne Ugalde started the first goal as she served a long ball from her half of the field down the right side. Cuba captain Yutmila Galindo lunged to intercept but missed as Canada’s Carolina Venegas chased it down.
As she ran toward the end line, Venegas sent a low cross to the end of the goalkeeper’s box to Rosales, who volley it home inside the far post goalkeeper Lucylena Martinez.
The Ticas doubled the lead in the 55th minute as Mariela Campos played an ball behind defender Yoanis Linares. Acosta ran onto it and finished with her left foot.
The Costa Ricans almost made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute as Raquel Rodriguez smashed a 25-yard effort off the crossbar.
The Cubans, who opportunities were few and far between, had two chances to score.
With Julieth Arias in Costa Rica’s goal for the injured Dinnia Diaz, who was ruled out last week after not having not fully recovered from knee surgery, Cuba appeared to want to challenge the untested keeper.
Cuba broke down the right flank in the 19th minute when Yezenia Gallardo fed Rachael Pelaez, who sent a short ball to an unmarked Jessica Pupo in front, but her shot was blocked on the line by Ugalde.
After an exchange of passes between Gallardo and Yaremis Fuentes sent Gallardo in on goalkeeper Julieth Arias in the 63rd minute, Costa Rica’s second-choice keeper came off her line to block the first attempt. Off the rebound, Fuentes placed another try on goal, but it was headed off the line by Fabiola Sanchez.
“We practice that if someone goes one way, you cover that spot,” Sanchez said. “In this case, that’s what we know that in the end, no matter what you have to cover the goal because that’s the most important.
“Whatever team it is, we have to play the way we practice,” Sanchez said. “That’s the way we’ve been taught. Now we have to make sure that we block the ball and we play together.”
Costa Rica can clinch a spot in the second round if defeats Haiti on Saturday and Canada beats Cuba.
Categories: Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Olympic Qualifying, Women
Tags: 2012 London Olympics, CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying, Sandy Rosales, Wendy Acosta
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