Canada & Costa Rica battle to one-all draw in CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A action

Alphonso Davies (12) scores the first goal of the match for Canada.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, Las Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 11, 2017) Canada and Costa Rica battled to a one-all draw at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in the second match for both teams in Group A action of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Canada struck first in the 26th minute when midfielder Alphonso Davies drilled the ball past Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton to put The Canucks up 1-0. The Ticos came back and scored the equalizer in the 42nd minute when defender Francisco Calvo headed a shot into the net off a corner kick.

Canada won the Gold Cup title in 2000 in 12 appearances, dating back to 1991. When The Canucks beat French Guiana 4-0 on Friday, July 7, 2017, it was the first match they had won in their previous eight Gold Cup games. Prior to that, they last tasted victory on June 11, 2011 as Dwayne DeRosario netted the lone goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win over Guadeloupe. The next opponent for Canada will be Honduras. They will face their final Group A opponent on Friday, July 14 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Costa Rica downed Honduras 1-0 on July 7 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Their best finish in previous Gold Cups was runner-up in the 2002 final against the United States at the Rose Bowl. Their overall record is 16 wins, 15 draws, and 19 loses in Gold Cup action prior to 2017.