Jamaica's Under-20 football team were beaten 2-0 by Costa Rica last night in their first match of the final qualifying round for the World Youth Cup in Mexico.

Costa Rica took the lead in the fourth minute through a penalty and added another in injury time.

Jamaica next plays Mexico on Friday and St. Kitts and Nevis on Sunday, and are still in with a chance of being one of two teams from Group B that qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada from June 30-July 12.

The USA and Panama were the first two CONCACAF representatives to qualify for the World Cup after finishing first and second, respectively, in Group A final round qualification held at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City from January 17-21.

Jamaica had earned their berth in the final round by eliminating Trinidad and Tobago in a home-and-away play-off series.

The young Reggae Boyz competed in the play-off after finishing second in the Caribbean Football Union Group G second round with victories over Bermuda and Netherlands Antilles, but were held to a scoreless draw against the hosts, Haiti, and lost first place on goal difference.

Jamaica became only the second Caribbean nation to qualify for an FIFA World Youth Championship when they competed in Argentina in 2001.