Scotland swept aside World Cup-bound Costa Rica as 17-year-old Emma Watson scored her first international goals after earning only her second cap.
Watson, handed her first start in Friday’s win over Australia, got the ball rolling after five minutes as she pounced on a Caroline Weir free-kick.
Claire Emslie helped steer in a Weir corner before the roles were reversed for the third – all before the break.
Watson completed the rout with a stunning strike.
It was a welcome hint of a brighter future on a night when Scotland were given a reminder of what might have been with a second victory in five days over a side who will be competing at this summer’s World Cup finals.
Scotland showed why they are 13 places above Costa Rica in the world rankings as the visitors head to Australia and New Zealand without a victory in seven outings.
It was a tale of two captains and an emerging teenage star at Hampden Park.
Scotland started nervously on a slippery surface, but they were soon to settle, helped in part by the visitors conceding a couple of free-kicks deep inside their own half as they slid dangerously into challenges on the sodden turf.
Weir, handed the captaincy in the absence of Rachel Corsie, took advantage to curl a delivery to the back post and, when Katherine Alvarado failed to clear, Watson was on hand to volley her first Scotland goal from close range.
An iconic moment in only her second Scotland appearance as the side debuted their 150th anniversary shirt.
It had been Emslie who had been handed the captaincy for Friday’s win over Australia in London to mark the winger’s 50th cap.
Any disappointment she might have felt by handing the armband to her joint vice-captain was dissipated as she stooped to reach Weir’s corner at the front post just short of the half hour. The final touch may have gone off Katherine Alvarado, but Emslie took the plaudits.
Emslie soon returned the favour with a clip behind the visiting defence for Weir to deftly steer past goalkeeper Daniela Solera after a dip of the shoulder took the Real Madrid midfielder past her marker.
Weir came close to adding another shortly after the break with a low drive across the face of goal and off the far post, while centre-half Sophie Howard had a diving header cleared off the line.
There was no surprise when Scotland increased their lead and what a stunner it was – Watson finding the far corner from 18 yards.
Costa Rica had wilted late on in losing in Poland on Thursday, but they showed some belated fight as goalkeeper Lee Gibson saved from Catalina Estrada and Cristin Granados long-ranger struck the top of the bar.
Nothing, though, could prevent a Hampden ovation for a convincing victory and an emerging young star.
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa: “Perfectly to plan. We didn’t concede a goal, won the two matches and the performances were good.
“In some moments we could see how Costa Rica can find the spaces and, with momentum, they could be dangerous, but I have to give credit to my players – they executed fantastically the game plan.
“We ticked a lot of boxes of what a world-class team is, but we want to master all of them. Missing the World Cup is the pain we are going to use to not miss the next opportunity.”
What’s next?
As Costa Rica head for World Cup Group C, where they face Spain in New Zealand on 21 July before games against Japan and Zambia, Scotland will have to resign themselves to yet-to-be-arranged friendlies before the inaugural Nations League starts in September.
Source – BBC Sport
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