Canada and the United States reserved their tickets to the 2012 Olympics as both recorded victories Friday Night at BC Place A crowd of 22,954 set a record for Olympic qualifying in Canadian Women’s soccer.
In the opening game the US defeated Costa Rica 3-0 but score did not indicate how tough it was for the USA. Costa Rica gave them all they could handle forcing the Americans to lose possession in the midfield and half of the pitch.
Rodriguez caught them napping but “tender” Hope Solo came to the rescue.
The US opened the scoring in the 17th minute on a goal by Tobin Heath who converted a corner kick giving the Americans a 1-0 lead
It wasn’t until the 28th minute when Cruz from 28 yards out hit the crossbar but to the delight American “keeper” Solo.
In the second half the American coach Pia Sundhage subbed in Alex Morgan for Tobi Heath as the Costa Rica team continued to play some great football. In the 72nd minute Carli Lloyd slotted home a goal after the initial shot bounced off a wall of defenders for Costa Rica beating goalkeeper Julieth Arias giving the American’s a 2-0 lead.
Alex Morgan put the finishing touches to the victory in the 89th minute bouncing a ball off a Costa Rica defender finding the back of the net making it at final 3-0 plus giving the US its 5 straight appearances.
Canada or Mexico would now have to decide their own fate in the second match of the Semi’s to see who play’s in London.
Canada defeated the Mexico in Semi’s in 08 with a 1 nil score to advancing them to the finals, also against the US. In CONCACAF Olympic Tournament with only one spot on the line the US squad beat Canada 2-1 denying Canada any opportunity to play in Beijing China.
The second game had just over 23,000 fans on hand to cheer Canada on for the win.
Mexico and Canada both had chances in the early going creating some of the best soccer of the tournament to date seeing Melisa Trancedi and Christine Sinclair have chances but the shots were off the target and if it were not for goalkeeper Cecilla Santiago; Canada could have taken an early lead.
In the 19th minute Canada’s Christine Sinclair opened the scoring on a brilliant set-up from Trancredi and Parker giving her a career high 128th goal.
In the 25th minute Sinclair set up Trancedi on a cross pass giving Canada a 2-0 lead. Mexico made adjustments in the second half changing their attack forcing Canada wide and creating spaces in the areas that were not there in the opening half.
The Mexican coach Leonardo Cuellar made some key moves in the half substituting at the half Anisa Guajardo for Teresa Noyola and Monica Alvarado for Marylin Diaz adding to the attack
John Herman (Canadian Coach) made some subs sending in Kaylyn Kyle and Melanie Booth for Julien Christina and Lauren Sesslemann in the 57th minute which helped Canada move the ball.
Mexico did get on the scoreboard in the 67th minute on a great goal from Veronica Perez who fired a shot 25 yards out to the top corner cutting Canada’s lead to 2-1.
Mexico almost got the equalizer three minutes later on a free kick outside the penalty area and LeBlanc made a stellar save to keep it a 2-1 game.in the 76th minute Melisa Trancedi found Sinclair behind the Mexico defenders to which she chipped the ball into the vacated net for her second of the night and 129th of her career.
This tied Abby Wamback of the US giving Canada the clinching goal putting them up 3-1.
Candice Chapman played her 100th game for Canada and is just the 9th player to do so. Canada is also on a 10 game undefeated streak in Olympic Qualifying heading into the game against the States at BC Place Stadium.
Congratulations to the National team!!
