Costa Rica U20 4-1 Antigua and Barbuda U20 — CONCACAF U20 Championship, July 31, 2026

Match Overview

Costa Rica’s Under-20 national team cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda in their CONCACAF U20 Championship group stage encounter. The Ticos showcased their technical superiority and ruthlessness in front of goal, bouncing back from an early scare to dominate proceedings.

First Half: Equalizer Sparks Costa Rica

Antigua and Barbuda stunned the Costa Ricans by taking the lead in the 8th minute. Forward Kyle James pounced on a defensive hesitation to slot home from close range. However, Costa Rica responded immediately. In the 14th minute, winger Jose Pablo Cordero drove into the box and was brought down for a penalty, which he converted himself. Just three minutes later, Andy Rojas curled a beautiful free kick over the wall to make it 2-1. Costa Rica continued to press, and Sebastian Cardenas made it 3-1 with a clinical finish from a cross in the 35th minute.

Second Half: Clinical Finish

The second half was more controlled, with Costa Rica managing the tempo and creating sporadic chances. The final goal came in the 78th minute when substitute Fernando Nunez headed home from a corner-kick routine. Antigua and Barbuda rarely threatened after the break, their confidence sapped by Costa Rica’s early onslaught.

Standout Performers

• Jose Pablo Cordero — scored a goal and constantly troubled the Antiguan defense with his dribbling.
• Andy Rojas — his free kick was the highlight of the match, showing composure beyond his years.
• Kyle James (Antigua) — a bright spark for his team, but service dried up after the equalizer.

The win placed Costa Rica top of Group B with six points, while Antigua and Barbuda remained third with just one point, facing an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.