The Digicel Fiji Young Kulas faced a 2-0 defeat against a well-organized Costa Rican team this morning in preparation for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. Costa Rica, currently ranked 42nd in the world, gradually asserted dominance in the match, managing to break through Fiji’s strong defense in the 41st minute, leading 1-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Costa Rica extended their lead with another goal off a corner kick, while Fiji, ranked 72nd, struggled to create significant scoring chances. Fiji’s best opportunities came from set pieces, including a notable free kick that tested the Costa Rican defense.
Head coach Angeline Chua highlighted the match’s importance for the team’s growth. She stated, “Playing against Costa Rica provided us with an opportunity to experience a different style of play and helped us pinpoint areas for improvement before the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Even though the outcome was not what we hoped for, facing such high-quality opponents will be beneficial for our players.”
The Young Kulas now shift their attention to their upcoming friendly game against Morocco, who is ranked 59th and also lost 2-0 to Costa Rica.