One of the favorites to capture the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup got off to a fantastic start on home soil on Sunday.
Costa Rica dispensed of Nicaragua to earn the third clean sheet of the tournament after Mexico and Canada achieved that feat on Saturday.
The Ticos put themselves in great position to top Group B, as they are expected to do, with their four-goal win over one of the three nations left fighting for second place in the group.
In the first game in San Jose, Costa Rica, Haiti came from behind to break the hearts of Bermuda, who is one of two nations making its Gold Cup debut.
Haiti 2, Bermuda 1
Bermuda appeared to be off to a dream start in its first-ever Gold Cup game.
Captain Dante Leverock headed home a corner kick right before halftime to open up a one-goal advantage in Sunday’s first game.
However, the lead would not last for the Gold Cup debutantes due to the attacking prowess of Haiti’s Frantzdy Pierrot.
In the 54th minute, Pierrot connected his head with a free kick on his run to the far post. Pierrot easily beat Bermuda goalkeeper Dale Eve to equalize the contest.
Twelve minutes later, Pierrot netted the game-winning goal for the Haitians on a rebound let out of Eve’s hands.
Derrick Etienne of the New York Red Bulls started the attacking buildup to the second goal with a strong run and cross from the left wing.
The win was the first in the competition since 2015 for Haiti, who missed out on the 2017 Gold Cup after making the quarterfinals four years ago.
Costa Rica 4, Nicaragua 0
Bryan Oviedo, Celso Borges, Elias Aguilar and FC Cincinnati’s Allan Cruz scored a goal each in the Ticos’ first-ever game on home soil in the Gold Cup.
Oviedo put the home side ahead in the seventh minute with a finish from close range, while Borges delivered a stunning strike from outside the box in the 19th minute.
OH. MY. 😳
What a strike by Celso Borges 🚀🚀🚀
Los Ticos captain puts Costa Rica up by 2 in the first half. pic.twitter.com/sd2OsQcKG0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2019
Aguilar’s goal came off a free kick that bounced past everyone in the penalty area and into the left side of the net to give Costa Rica a three-goal advantage.
Cruz finished off Costa Rica’s easy victory with a thumping strike into the roof of the net. Cruz was set up by a brilliant back heel assist from Bryan Ruiz.
WHAT A GOAL COSTA RICA 🔥
Great back-heel pass, even better finish by @fccincinnati's Allan Cruz 👌 #GoldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/nD1FxE619i
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2019
Cruz’s FC Cincinnati teammate Kendall Waston helped the Ticos earn a clean sheet with his 90-minute performance in defense.
Next Up
All four Group B teams head to Toyota Stadium for matches on Thursday. Haiti and Nicaragua will face off, while Costa Rica squares off against Bermuda.
Group C play opens up on Monday in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Reggae Boyz hosting Honduras and Curacao facing El Salvador.