Lushimo Mweemba thrust Zambia ahead just three minutes into the contest before Barbra Banda doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot in this Group C encounter.
But Costa Rica reduced arrears two minutes into the second half through Daphne Herrera but the Copper Queens put the contest beyond their opponents’ reach with a Racheal Kundananji stoppage time goal.
Both sides are out of the World Cup and Zambia walk out with heads held high after recording their first World Cup victory while Costa Rica go home feeling low after losing all their three games at the bottom of the group.
