Canada’s national futsal team fell to group favorites Costa Rica 5-1 Wednesday at the 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship to close out Group C action in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The loss means Canada will play Panama, who topped Group B, in the quarterfinals Friday with the winner qualifying for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup as a top-four team in the Concacaf tournament. That do-or-die game will be available on OneSoccer’s YouTube page.

RELATED READING: 2021 CPL pre-season: What we know so far

The Costa Ricans surged ahead early with four beautiful first-half goals, capped off by a cross-court buzzer-beater from the Ticos ‘keeper. Canada, who clinched a knockout stage spot after Tuesday’s win over Haiti, never quite found a grove going forward in the group closer. A few short-angle chances came early in the second half but none managed to find the netting.

Ian Bennett eventually scored for Canada with a few minutes left when a shot from the sideline was unintentionally tipped past the Costa Rican ‘keeper.

Canada has reached the World Cup once, in 1989, where they failed to advance past the group stage. Canada is coached by Forge FC assistant coach Kyt Selaidopoulos, who has managed the national futsal team since 2016.