TIJUANA, Mexico –Costa Rica moved closer to a berth in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship with a 3-0 win Friday against Trinidad and Tobago.
Costa Rica faces Mexico Sunday to close out group play in a quest to earn a trip to the World Cup in Nigeria in October.
Trinidad and Tobago, which lost to Mexico 7-0 Wednesday, was eliminated with the result and reduced to the role of spoiler Sunday when it takes on Guatemala.
The Ticos dominated possession in the opening half with a one-touch scheme, often catching Trinidad and Tobago’s defense flat.
Costa Rica capitalized In the 14th minute when Campbell sent a right-footed shot past Trinidad goalkeeper John Thomas from 30 yards.
Costa Rica also scored from close range.
Bustos sent a loose ball into the net in the 18th minute from near the penalty spot after a Trinidad and Tobago defender botched a clearance attempt.
Mayorga’s goal also was from inside the area, tapping in a filtered ball from Bustos in the 37th started with a rolling ball from Cambpell.
Trinidad pressured Costa Rica on several occasions in the second half but couldn’t convert.
Trinidad’s clearest opportunity came in the 57th minute when Ryan McLeod deflected a Dillon Kirton corner kick, heading it over the cross bar.
Coach Anton Corneal’s team had eight shots in the second half compared to Costa Rica’s six but the Ticos were too much in the opening half where they out-shot their opponent 10-3.
TEAMS:
CRC: - 1. Ricardo Rojas, 4. Alejandro Calderón (7. Danny Blanco 54'), 5. Pablo Martínez, 8. Juan Gabriel Bustos, 10. Deyver Vega, 14. Rosbin Mayorga (9. Jonathan Moya 73'), 15. Joseph Mora (13. Federico Crespo 59'), 16. Ariel Soto (C), 17. Yeltsin Tejeda, 20. Adrián Mora.
TRI: - 1. John Tomas, 5. Zavion Navarro, 6. Dillon Kirton, 9. Cordel Cato, 10. Jerrel Britto (C) (7. Shahdon Winchester 46'), 11. Johan Peltier (8. Vernell Ramírez 67'), 12. Akeems Grant, 14. Rashad Wint, 16. Ryan McLeod (13. Moriba Ballah 80'), 17. Ross Russell Jr, 19. Ryan Frederick.
CRC / TRI
13 SHOTS 24
9 SHOTS ON TARGET 16
9 SAVES 6
9 FOULS 11
5 CORNERS 3
0 OFFSIDE 7
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