USA beats Canada 4-2, reaches CONCACAF U-17 semis, qualifies for World Cup

April 24, 2009

TIJUANA, Mexico –John McInerney scored his fourth goal of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship to help the United States to a 4-2 Group A win against Canada on Thursday, sending it to the semifinals and extending its streak of being only nation to qualify for every World Cup.

The win combined with Honduras’ 6-0 rout of Cuba on Antony Lozano’s three goals earlier Thursday, ensured the USA of a 13th trip to the world championship.

McInerney converted a penalty kick two minutes into the match and scored again in the 31st. He sent a shot from 30 yards to the upper-right corner for a U.S. 2-0 lead.

It appeared McInerney would pass the ball to Sebastian Lleget, who ran parallel with McInerney toward goal. Instead, McInerney took an ambitious effort, surprising the Canadian defense and goalkeeper Richard Causton.

McInerney’s goals gave him the tournament lead one more than Mexico’s Martin Galvan, who had three in El Tri’s 7-0 defeat of Trinidad on Wednesday.

Lleget’s goal in the 39th minute was his second in the eight-team event that runs through May 2. He sent a header past Causton after a couple of volleys were sent into the penalty area, beginning with Stefan Jerome. Luis Miguel Gil sent the second volley to Lleget to finish the play.

Joseph Gyau gave the U.S. a 4-1 lead with a goal in the 84th minute.

Coulton Jackson scored a minute later, while Jaineil Hoilett counted for the Canadians’ other goal in the 71st.

The result put the United States atop Group A with six points and guaranteed it a place in next Wednesday’s semifinals. It also claimed the first of CONCACAF’s four berths in the U-17 World Cup in Nigiera October 24-November 15.

Honduras is in second in the group with four points.

Canada remained alive with one point, but will need a dominating victory over Cuba on Saturday in its final group match and a U.S. victory over Honduras to have any chance of advancing. Cuba, which played with 10 men for 86 minutes against Honduras, was eliminated from contention.

Honduras helped its chances at a World Cup slot thanks in part to three goals in each half.

Dayron Joseph was shown a red card four minutes into the game for elbowing a Honduras defender.

That helped open space for Honduras, ultimately resulting three first-half goals.

Johny Rivera (17th minute), Jose Chavez (29th) Nestor Martinez (67th) and Lozano’s three goals accounted for Honduras’ scoring.

Rivera poked in a loose ball from the mouth of the goal after a curving cross from Allan Flores deflected off a Honduran player, dropping at Rivera’s feet to send into the net.

Chavez beat Cuban goalkeeper Yeimi Guerra to a ball just outside the middle of the penalty area and looped the ball over Guerra’s head into an empty net.

Lozano converted a penalty into the upper-right corner in the 42nd minute for his first goal after referee Hugo Cruz called a handball.

Lozano’s other scores came in the 73rd and 83rd minute.

Martinez scored in the 67th minute for a Honduras 4-0 lead. He blasted a shot from 30 yards into the right corner. Guerra was able to got both hands on the ball but Martinez’ shot was strong enough to deflect into the net.

By Ivan Orozco

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