Both Jamaica and Costa Rica used fast starts to build two goals leads in the first half as the Group C favorites both notched tournament opening victories in Orlando.
The offensive breakout was particularly important for Costa Rica, who had struggled for goals since the restart of international play last fall for the COVID pandemic.
But the first match of the night was Jamaica and Suriname, and it was the Reggae Boyz who struck first via Shamar Nicholson in just the sixth minute, with his run across the top of the box followed by a dragged shot back to the far post to beat keeper Warner Hahn.