Costa Rica U20 4–1 Antigua and Barbuda U20
CONCACAF U20 Championship | July 31, 2026

Costa Rica’s Under-20 side began their CONCACAF U20 Championship campaign in emphatic style, dismantling Antigua and Barbuda 4-1 in a one-sided encounter. The Ticos showcased their technical superiority and attacking depth, scoring three times in the first half to effectively seal the result before the interval.

First Half Dominance

From the opening whistle, Costa Rica pressed high and moved the ball quickly. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when winger Jostin Daly cut inside from the left and unleashed a curling shot that beat the Antiguan goalkeeper at his near post. Just seven minutes later, a quick combination play between central midfielders Brandon Aguilera and Kenneth Vargas led to a penalty. Aguilera calmly converted to make it 2-0.

The third goal arrived in the 34th minute. A defensive lapse from Antigua and Barbuda allowed striker Álvaro Zamora to steal the ball 25 yards from goal. He drove forward and fired a low drive into the bottom corner, leaving the score at 3-0. Antigua and Barbuda struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the Costa Rican attackers, who frequently found space between the lines.

Second Half and Response

Costa Rica continued to dominate after the break but took their foot off the gas slightly. They added a fourth in the 63rd minute when substitute winger Randy Martínez finished off a sweeping counter-attack. Antigua and Barbuda did pull a goal back in the 78th minute, with forward Zaire Johnson heading home from a corner, providing a small consolation for the Caribbean side.

Key Players

• Jostin Daly (Costa Rica) – The electric winger caused constant problems down the left flank, scoring the opener and assisting another.
• Brandon Aguilera (Costa Rica) – The captain controlled the midfield, scoring a penalty and dictating the tempo.
• Zaire Johnson (Antigua and Barbuda) – The forward’s late goal was a rare bright spot for his team, who otherwise struggled to create chances.

Tournament Impact

The victory puts Costa Rica level on points with group leaders (pending other results) and sends a strong message to their rivals in the CONCACAF U20 Championship. For Antigua and Barbuda, the heavy defeat is a disappointment but they will have opportunities to bounce back against other group opponents. The result underscores the development gap between the region’s traditional powers and smaller nations, though Antigua’s spirited consolation goal showed they will not give up easily.