Costa Rica beat Haiti 2-0 last night at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, closing its Concacaf Nations League group stage with a second consecutive victory under interim coach Bryan Ruiz. Carlos Mora and Andrey Soto scored inside the first 21 minutes as La Sele completed Ruiz’s two-match assignment with five goals scored and none conceded. The former captain’s future remained unresolved after the final whistle.
Costa Rica finished fourth in Group A with six points, behind Curaçao, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Curaçao and Haiti advanced to the quarterfinals, while Costa Rica will enter the preliminary round of qualifying for the 2027 Gold Cup. La Sele’s place in League A was already secure before kickoff after Trinidad and Tobago drew 1-1 with Curaçao, allowing Costa Rica to focus on ending a difficult campaign with a win at home.
Mora opened the scoring in the sixth minute, heading in a corner from Ronald Matarrita. The left back helped create the second goal too. Yerlan Sosa sent a long pass across the field to Matarrita, who set up Soto for a left-footed finish into the far corner in the 21st minute.
With Keylor Navas in goal and Celso Borges in midfield, Costa Rica protected its early advantage. Haiti controlled the ball at times but struggled to create scoring chances. In the second half, La Sele stayed organized in defense and looked for chances to counterattack without sending too many players forward.
Supporters at Saprissa chanted “olé” as Costa Rica moved the ball during the first half, showing their appreciation for a team that had opened the competition with two straight defeats. Costa Rica began its Nations League campaign with a 4-3 loss to Curaçao on Sept. 24, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Haiti in Jamaica on Sept. 27. Ruiz’s first match in charge produced a 3-0 win over Nicaragua in Managua on Oct. 1 and Sunday’s result gave La Sele a measure of revenge against Haiti, although it could not repair the damage to its quarterfinal hopes.
After the match, Ruiz said he had completed his assignment but had not decided whether to stay on permanently. He said he had not sought the role and would let discussions about his future take their course. Coaching Costa Rica remained an ambition, but any decision would depend on what was best for the country and his family.
Ruiz said he expected to take Monday off and return Tuesday to his work with Alajuelense’s under-20 team. He also repeated his preference for a Costa Rican coach to lead the national side and emphasizing the need for someone who could earn the players’ trust while demanding more from them.
Ruiz urged the players to carry that improvement back to their clubs, saying commitment and consistent performances would be key to building the national team. Costa Rica will play two qualifying matches in March 2027, one at home and one away. The winner on total goals will advance to the 2027 Gold Cup.
