The lesson, not the score, will ultimately determine the result of Canada's World Cup qualifier in Costa Rica

Dreams have a cost. Climbing higher than you've ever reached means you are one misstep away from your worst fall. If you are close to achieving meaningful things, then whatever you do matters more than it once did. Greatness amplifies everything around it, including your mistakes.

On Thursday night in San José, Canada's men came agonizingly close to turning their wildest wish into reality — qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986. A win or a tie would have seen them through. Instead, they fell 1-0 to Costa Rica. After 17 consecutive CONCACAF qualifiers without a loss, they finally tasted defeat.

Now we will see what they take from it.

"There's a group of warriors there who will pick themselves up," head coach John Herdman said after. "They've just had a punch in the ribs, and I think the response will be strong."

Given the night's results from other games in the group, Canada remains a virtual lock to qualify for Qatar, needing just a single point from its two remaining games to earn an automatic berth. (If fourth-place Costa Rica fails to win both of its matches, that would also get the job done.)

WATCH | Short-handed Canadian squad drops 1st qualifier to Costa Rica:

The first of those games comes on Sunday, when Canada will host Jamaica, already eliminated from contention, before a sold-out crowd at BMO Field in Toronto. Nobody on this team doubts that victory will come, or that an incredible celebration will follow.

"It's in the stars to do this at home," Herdman said. "Get ready Canada, because we're coming."

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan echoed the sentiment, essentially guaranteeing a win. "We're going to get it done at home. We'll give just everything … I know we will, because I believe in these guys. It's meant to be."

But nothing teaches like experience, and it would be a missed opportunity for these players not to reflect on their first defeat in a year. The overarching lesson should be one of accountability. 

Fifteen minutes into the game, the Costa Ricans were pressing, the winds were swirling, and the Canadians were struggling to find anything resembling forward momentum. That's not unusual for Herdman's side, which has become expert at soaking up waves of attack before brightly countering. "Bend, don't break," is his principal mantra, and it has served this team well.

On this pressure-filled occasion, however, Canada bent a little too dramatically. Without need or provocation, midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye made a rash challenge on Ronald Matarrita, putting his studs into the Costa Rican's ankle, just above the protection of his boot. Referee Said Martinez issued Kaye a yellow card. Then, ominously, Martinez was summoned by his video assistant to the touchline to take a second look.

Martinez took a third look, and then a fourth, and then a fifth, sixth, and seventh. The Costa Rican crowd chanted for a red. When a referee spends so long in front of the monitor, that's usually what comes. A foul, like guilt, doesn't often lessen upon further review.

WATCH | Canada's Kaye sent off in 1st half after 2 yellow cards: