(Tobin Heath and Megan Rapione of USA congratulating each other after their win over Mexico. Photo: Rob Kinnan of USA Today Sports)

USA, Panama, Costa Rica and Canada claimed opening day victories in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship which served off on Thursday.

 Defending world champions USA thrashed Mexico 6-0 in their opener of the campaign which also serves as qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Two goals each by Megan Rapione and Alex Morgan combined with Julie Ertz and Tobin Heath's strikes saw the American ladies put one leg in the semifinals of the 8-team tourney.

Earlier in the day, Panama ended a 12-year hiatus from the CONCACAF finals with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Trinidad and Tobago.

Marta Cox, Kenia Rangel and Erika Hernandez hit the target as Panama who qualified through the Central American zone in August, cruised to the victory.

On Friday, proceedings in Group B took place where Coast Rica hammered Cuba 8-0 and Canada recorded a 2-0 success over Jamaica.

The trio of Maria Barrantes, Priscilla Chinchilla and Shirley Cruz struck a brace each to lead the rout for the Costa Ricans, with Melissa Herrera and Fabiola Jimenez also getting on the score-sheet.

While striker Nichelle Prince scored in both halves of the encounter, on the 33rd and 80th minutes respectively to lift Canada past the Jamaicans.

Actions continues on Sunday and Monday, when Panama face USA, Mexico trade tackles with Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica square off against Costa Rica.

The top three teams will earn automatic spots in next year's world cup finals, while the fourth meets Argentina in an intercontinental play-off in November.

 Day 1 results:
• USA 6-0 Mexico
• Trinidad and Tobago 0-3 Panama
• Costa Rica 8-0 Cuba
• Canada 2-0 Jamaica

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