Costa Rica Beats Jamaica; Canada Overpowers Haiti

Megan Chavez scored a goal in each half Wednesday night in Victoria, Canada, and Costa Rica defeated Jamaica, 2-0, in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup soccer tournament.

Chavez, 19, put the Ticas ahead in the 43rd minute and doubled Costa Rica’s advantage in the 69th minute when she hit a left-foot shot from 17 yards.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Charmaine Hooper scored a first-half hat trick and Canada routed Haiti, 11-1, to assume command of its four-team group.

The Canadians are favored along with the United States to qualify for the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China as the top two teams in the eight-nation tournament.

Christine Sinclair scored twice in the first half, and Silvana Burtini and Candace Chapman each got one goal.

The tournament continues Friday night at Victoria when Haiti (0-1) plays Costa Rica (1-0) and Canada (1-0) plays Jamaica (0-1). On Saturday at Seattle, Mexico (1-1) plays Trinidad and Tobago (0-2) and the United States (2-0) plays Panama (1-1).