MIAMI, Florida – Alexa Herrera scored in the final seconds to earn Costa Rica a dramatic 2-1 victory over Haiti in Group C of League A of the Road To W Gold Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
With the result, Costa Rica pull to within three points of Haiti in the group table, with the Ticas on six points through three matches and Haiti finishing with nine points after four matches. Costa Rica will face Saint Kitts and Nevis in the group finale on Monday.
Costa Rica and Haiti are each assured of a place in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Prelims, with the group stage place to be decided on Monday.
Costa Rica came storming out of the gates and after two close looks at goal, the Ticas broke through in the 13’ with Sheika Scott floating over a cross from the right and Gloriana Villalobos steering home a volley for a 1-0 Costa Rica lead.
The vaunted Haiti attack was kept in check for much of the first 45 minutes, with a Sherly Jeudy shot easily saved by Costa Rica GK Daniela Solera serving as the best chance.
Haiti dusted off the attacking rust in the second half and quickly threatened through a Batcheba Louis shot that sliced wide in the 47’.
But seven minutes later in the 54’ there was no missing from Nerilia Mondesir, who unleashed a rocket from 35 yards out and beat Solera to even the score at 1-1.
It was wide open for both teams in the final half-hour, with Costa Rica keen to find a winner to draw closer to Haiti in the table, while a second goal would boost Haiti’s prospects of winning the group.
Just when it looked like the Haiti defense would do enough to reach the final whistle, a last-gasp chance for Costa Rica yielded Herrera’s winning score for a 2-1 final.
