Costa Rica find form to beat Martinique and prepare for Mexico quarter-final

By Samindra Kunti in New Jersey

July 4 – Costa Rica won 6-4 against Martinique to restore calm in their camp and set up a quarter-final with Mexico.

The Central Americans bounced back from a slow start to the tournament with just one point from two games to top the Caribbean island nation with goals from Juan Vargas, Joel Campbell and Anthony Contreras in a 15-minute second-half cameo for ensure qualification for the knockout stage.

The elimination of Martinique means that in a repeat of the 2021 tournament, Jamaica will be the only Caribbean representative in the last eight.

Martinique and Guadeloupe, both qualified in the round of 16, could have reached Jamaica in the quarter-finals but they were both eliminated, Les Matino after a dramatic 15 minutes in the second half where they conceded three goals .

Costa Rica and Martinique failed to match the drama of the previous high-octane meeting between Guatemala and Guadeloupe, but what the match lacked in intensity the teams did compensated with goals, which resulted in a tennis score.

It was Kendall Waston who gave the Ticos the lead in the 10th minute with a disjointed goal from a set piece. There was nothing poetic about Waston's strike, but his goal calmed Costa Rica's nerves somewhat. The Central Americans were under pressure throughout the Gold Cup and manager Luis Suarez decided to play with Contreras in attack.

They couldn't enjoy their advantage for long. With delightful skill and tenacity, Patrick Burner held his marker, cut inside and curled the ball into the top right corner in the 18th minute to level the score. Burner had also proved his worth against El Salvador and the Nimes player, often moving down the front line, kept the Costa Rican defense on their toes.

At the other end, Costa Rica offered next to nothing, but in another all-powerful scramble, Martinique failed to clear their lines and Francisco Calvo was the last player to touch the ball before he crosses the line in slow motion, 2 -1.

After the restart, the wheels came off for Martinique. Within five minutes, the Ticos decided the game with two goals. In the 55th minute, Juan Vargas went unmarked and headed in Costa Rica's third goal before Joel Campbell converted a penalty to make it 4-1.

The rest of the second half was academic and the result was no longer in danger for Costa Rica. Contreras added to Costa Rica's tally, 5-1 before Brighton Labeau pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 74th minute and Burner grabbed his second, but there was not to be a late push from Martinique. At the other end, Diego Campos netted a sixth for the Ticos and the goals continued as substitute Jonathan Mexico secured Martinique's fourth.

The Caribbean team has been fired, but they can leave the tournament with their heads held high. Costa Rica, meanwhile, complete the quarter-final roster and will face Mexico in Arlington, but Suarez's XI will need to improve and strengthen their defense to stand a chance.

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