EDINBURG, Texas (AP) - Khadija Shaw scored just after the halftime and Jamaica went on to upset Costa Rica 1-0 on Monday in the group stage of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
Costa Rica, ranked No. 34 in the world, was playing backup goalkeeper Daniela Solera because Maria Bermudez fractured her arm in the opening group game. Shaw’s goal for the 64th-ranked Reggae Girlz came in the 46th minute.
Group B also includes Canada and Cuba, which play in Monday’s late match at HEB Park.
Group A, which is playing in Cary, North Carolina, includes the defending World Cup champion United States. The top two finishers in each group advance to play in the semifinals in Frisco, Texas, next Sunday.
The top three finishers in the tournament earn spots in the Women’s World Cup in France next summer. The fourth-place finisher goes to a playoff against Argentina for a berth.
Jamaica, which has never made a World Cup field, fell 2-0 to Canada in the team’s opening Group B game. Costa Rica defeated Cuba 8-0 in their first game. Group B play concludes on Thursday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.