Canada suffers 1st loss of Concacaf World Cup qualifiers

• Canada 0, Costa Rica 1 (Borges 45’+1’)
• Canadians still in 1st, 3 points ahead of U.S, and Mexico
• Reds reduced to 10 men after Kaye sent off in 34th minute

The champagne has been put on ice, the celebration party put on hold - for now.

A win by Canada on Thursday in Costa Rica would have seen it clinch a berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But the Canadians suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss after playing most of the game a man down, and that defeat combined with results elsewhere on the night meant the Reds’ victory party was delayed.

Honduras drew 1-1 at Panama earlier in the night, so a Canadian draw would have sealed World Cup qualification. Canada could have also clinched had Mexico defeated the United States (which kicked off five minutes before Canada-Costa Rica), but that game ended 0-0 in Mexico City.