The Digicel Fiji Young Kulas faced a 2-0 defeat against a well-organized Costa Rican team this morning as part of their preparations for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. Costa Rica, positioned 42nd in the world rankings, gradually gained control of the match, scoring in the 41st minute to lead 1-0 at halftime after breaking through Fiji’s strong defense.
In the second half, Costa Rica extended their lead with another goal from a corner kick, while the Young Kulas, ranked 72nd, had difficulty creating clear scoring opportunities. Fiji’s significant chances mainly arose from set pieces, including a notable free kick that tested the Costa Rican defense.
Head coach Angeline Chua highlighted the importance of this match for the development of the team. “Playing against Costa Rica provided us with an opportunity to experience a different style of play and helped us pinpoint areas for improvement ahead of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Despite the outcome, facing high-quality opponents will immensely benefit our players,” she stated.
The Young Kulas will now shift their attention to their upcoming friendly match against Morocco, ranked 59th, who also endured a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica.