Canada, United States head into semis as favorites

January 29, 2010

It looks like another North American grudge match could decide the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s title.

Both the United States and Canada advanced to the semifinals unbeaten and untied through the group stage, dominating their opponents and only allowing one goal each in three games.

However, both have to get through the knockout semis on Thursday, which will be a repeat of two years ago in Mexico, when the United States beat Costa Rica 4-0, and Canada edged Mexico 2-1.

The United States will face Costa Rica in the first semifinal at 1:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern) with Canada against Mexico following at 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern).

“Costa Rica is an excellent team and I think it will be very challenging game for us,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “We know they have some wonderfully skilled players and they play an attractive style so we are definitely going to have to be prepared. Hopefully, we’ll get our legs back with a couple of days of rest and then we’ll be ready to go.”

The United States has won two World Cups, but has lost to Canada two of the three times they faced off in the CONCACAF final.

The United States doesn’t want to appear like it’s looking past Costa Rica, realizing that a win Thursday qualifies it for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany in July.

“We’re excited to be in the semifinals,” said striker and co-captain Sydney Leroux, who leads all scorers with five goals. “We are definitely going to be ready and bring our ‘A’ game. That’s all I can ask of my teammates.”

With three teams qualifying for the World Cup, a semifinal loss won’t preclude a trip to Germany, but will require a victory in Saturday’s third-place game.

The United States has been, so far, the most impressive team, outscoring Jamaica, Trinidad and Mexico 12-1, allowing its only goal in second-half injury time of its finale against its southern neighbor.

“It’s fairly obvious that they are physically stronger than us,” Costa Rica coach Randal Chacon said. “They are strong and tall, but we have to take advantage of our strengths. We will work to maintain our shape when we don’t have the ball.”

Mexico and Costa Rica have split their two meetings in the third-place game, and Mexico may feel it’s time to avoid the uncertainty of World Cup qualification in a consolation match.

It benched forward Charlyn Corral, instrumental in El Tri’s victories over Trinidad and Jamaica, when Mexico played the United States. It apparently was looking to prevent her from picking up a second yellow card and having her miss the semifinals. Accumulated yellow cards are not waived after the first round.

“This is the most important game…we can’t keep anything in,” Corral said. “We have to give more than our 100 percent and we have to plat intelligently because we know that in the physical aspect, the height, and in the air battle we may have a disadvantage.”

Canada coach Carolina Morace feels her side has improved each game, but forward Adriana Leon noted she thinks the side needs to improve its finishing.

While the four semifinalists were not unexpected, the Caribbean’s three representatives teams went home disappointed – mostly notably Jamaica.

The “Reggae Girlz” – which reached the semifinals four years ago, returned to their country without a goal and having been outscored 9-0. Along with Cuba and Trinidad. the three Caribbean sides did not win any of the eight games against non-Caribbean opponents and finished with an aggregate goal difference of minus-18.

Conversely, Guatemala, which was playing in its first Under-20 Women’s Championship, managed a victory (over Cuba 2-1) and was the only team to score a goal against the defending and two-time champion Canadians.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, Canada, Caribbean, Carolina Morace, chacon, co captain, concacaf, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, group stage, grudge match, Guatemala, guatemala city, impressive team, injury time, Jamaica, Jill Ellis, knockout, Leon, leroux, Mexico, North American, place game, qualifying for the world cup, randal, semifinal loss, semis, skilled players, southern neighbor, three games, Tri, Trinidad, U.S, United States, world cup in germany, world cups

Costa Rica beats Cuba 3-1 to reach semis

January 25, 2010

Costa Rica became the third team to reach the semifinals at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship on Sunday, capitalizing on uncharacteristic gaffes by Cuban goalkeeper Lucylena Martinez to win 3-1.

The result gave Costa Rica six points and tied it with Canada atop Group A, pending the unbeaten North Americans’ later game against Guatemala. The United States and Mexico secured their places on Saturday.

Raquel Rodriguez Vasquez scored in the 18th minute, and Daniela Cruz and Ana Aguilar were the beneficiary of Martinez’s errors in the 44th and 83rd to give Las Ticas enough to prevail over Cuba, which lost its third straight and was eliminated. Cuba joined fellow Caribbean sides Trinidad and Jamaica, which were eliminated from contention in Group B on Saturday.

Cruz ran onto a ball 25 meters from goal after a corner kick pinged in the penalty area and was eventually deflected out. Her low strike bounced on the way in, and as Martinez went low to her left to grab it, she misplayed the ball as she was able to get her hands to it but let it slip through.

The goal gave Costa Rica a 2-1 lead and the Ticas spent much of the second half withstanding several thrusts by Cuba.

Costa Rica took the lead when Cruz’s ball into the area deflected off the head of Yoana Calderon, was headed on by Maria Moreira and bounced once in the penalty area. Rodriguez Vasquez beat a late arriving Martinez to the ball and headed it over her.

Cuba’s Yezenia Gallardo three times in the first half broke free down the right side on balls out of the back, and was able to convert the second one into a goal.

After shooting wide in the 20th minute, she outraced Marianne Ugalde, before attempting the lay the ball back into the area for an onrushing and unmarked Calderon. But Yocxelin Rodriguez was between them and the cross hit her ankle at the near post, deflecting past goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia for an own goal.

While Costa Rica had the better possession in the first half, Cuba was the more dominant team in the second half until Aguilar ended the threat. Katherine Alvarado sent a 23-meter free kick into the area that Martinez punched upward. The ball fell at the right post, where Aguilar raced in and touched into the goal.

GUATEMALA CITY

Tags: aguilar, Ana Aguilar, beneficiary, calderon, Canada, Caribbean, concacaf, contention, corner kick, Costa Rica, Cuba, gaffes, gallardo, Goalkeeper, Guatemala, guatemala city, las ticas, Maria Moreira, Marianne Ugalde, moreira, North Americans, possession, raquel, Raquel Rodriguez, six points, tapia, three times, Trinidad, ugalde, United States, win 3

Costa Rica nears semis with 3-0 win

January 23, 2010

Costa Rica capitalized on a pair of errors by Guatemala goalkeeper Yoselin Franco in the first half and won 3-0 Friday to put itself back in contention for a semifinal berth at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

Friday’s results left Canada atop Group A and on the brink of the semifinals with six points, three more than Costa Rica and Guatemala. Cuba was virtually eliminated with its 2-0 loss to Canada earlier in the day.

Canada, which has won both games by a combined 3-0, will face Guatemala on Sunday, while Costa Rica will play winless Cuba.

Las Ticas controlled from the start and scored twice five minutes apart late in the first half to put themselves comfortably ahead. Mariane Ugalde’s free kick from just inside her own half floated toward the Guatemala penalty area beyond everybody, bounced once eight yards from goal and over the outstretched arms of Franco in the 35th minute.

From almost the same spot five minutes later, Fabiola Sanchez launched a long free kick that Franco slid to block. She only managed to make partial contact with the ball as defender Marilyn Rivera collided with her, sending the ball to the penalty spot where Paola Alvarado ran on to it, striking the ball with her first touch into an open net.

Guatemala, playing in its first CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, struggled to maintain possession in the Costa Rican half and rarely created anything remotely dangerous. Unlike its opening 2-1 victory over Cuba, Guatemala frequently was pinned in its own half, although had one promising opportunity waived off early for offside.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia also had to race 30 meters off her line in the 14th minute to disrupt a potential chance, but that was the best Guatemala could muster.

Costa Rica, which twice has missed out on qualifying for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup after losing the third-place game, continued their domination in the second half and added a penalty in the 60th. Raquel Rodriguez Vasquez earned the penalty when she outmuscled Vanessa Ovando along the right side of the penalty area and turned toward goal before being tripped.

Raquel Rodriquez Cedeno converted to virtually put the game out of reach.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: brink, concacaf, contention, Costa Rica, Cuba, domination, fabiola, Fabiola Sanchez, five minutes, Franco, free kick, Goalkeeper, Guatemala, guatemala city, marilyn rivera, offside, Paola Alvarado, place game, priscilla, Priscilla Tapia, promising opportunity, Raquel Rodriguez, Raquel Rodriquez, semifinal berth, six points, tapia, ugalde, Vanessa Ovando, World Cup, yoselin

Canada prevails over Cuba 2-0

January 23, 2010

Chelsea Stewart finally converted one of Canada’s numerous chances in the 59th minute and put the defending champion on the brink of the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Cuba in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship on Friday.

It was Canada’s second straight victory and put it atop Group A with six points, three better than Costa Rica and Guatemala. Canada needs only a draw on Sunday against Guatemala to advance.

It was Cuba’s second loss in as many games, vitrually ending its chances of advancing.

Three teams will qualify for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany in July.

Goalkeeper and captain Lucylena Martinez made numerous saves to frustrate Canada, which dominated possession but was repeatedly denied by the very active netminder.

Canada finally went ahead when Stewart capitalized on defensive flub by Yamara Lopez. Lopez tried to clear a long ball into the area but only managed to get a weak touch. It dropped it into the path of Stewart, who volleyed the ball with her left foot from just outside the area and sent it curling past Martinez inside the right post.

Jenna Richardson added the insurance in the 87th, heading a looping long cross from midfield by Laura Chenard off Martinez’s shoulder. The ball skipped off the left post before settling in the goal.

Except for one brief period in each half, Canada dominated, repeatedly testing the Cuban defense and forcing Martinez to block shots, punch away or grab crosses or come off her line to diffuse danger.

It started as early as the 15th minute when she had to race to the top of her penalty area to make a sliding block of a shot by Adriana Leon, and again in the 27th when she was forced to a leaping grab of Leon’s header after a misplayed ball by her defense.

She again raced off her line to thwart Leon in the 38th and pushed a header by Chloe Malette around the right post in the 51st.

After the goal, Martinez denied Stewart in the 61st, grabbing a header, and then blocked a shot by Christabel Oduro in the 63rd and punched away a rebound seconds later.

Cuba’s best chances came in a five-minute period midway through the first half and a lone foray in the 70th.

Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc tipped Rachel Pelaez’s free kick over the bar in the 20th minute and Yezenia Gallardo, who had Cuba’s lone goal against Guatemala in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss, was able to get free in the box in the 25th to turn, but shot wide right.

Yoana Calderon, likewise, was able to get a turning shot in the 70th, but also shot wide.

Martinez kept the score from being lopsided, continuing her stellar performance to the end, pushing a free kick by Stewart over the bar in the 81st.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: 59th minute, adriana, Adriana Leon, Canada, CHELSEA, Chelsea Stewart, chenard, Chloe Malette, Christabel Oduro, concacaf, Costa Rica, crosses, Cuba, Cynthia LeBlanc, flub, Germany, Goalkeeper, Guatemala, guatemala city, Jenna Richardson, Laura Chenard, left foot, lopez lopez, malette, midfield, odur, possession, Rachel Pelaez, six points, Stewart, straight victory, world cup in germany, yamara

Guatemala wins Women’s U-20 debut

January 21, 2010

Guatemala won its debut match in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, getting a pair of first-half goals by Ana Martinez and holding off Cuba 2-1 on Wednesday.

Martinez’s goals capped a dominant first half by Guatemala, which completed an opening day at the fifth CONCACAF championship.

Defending champion Canada defeated Costa Rica in the tournament opener earlier in the day at Estadio Cementos Progreso. Both games observed a moment of silence before kickoff for the victims of last week’s earthquake in fellow CONCACAF nation Haiti.

Guatemala dominated the game from the start, except for a brief surge by Cuba to start the second half when Yezenia Gallardo scored to get within a goal in the 62nd minute.

Martinez, who was replaced in the 74th minute, put Guatemala ahead in the eighth minute. Shannon Brooks launched a free kick from midfield, and with the Cuba backs slow to react, Martinez ran behind them and volleyed a right-footed shot into the opposite side netting from just outside the goal box.

She opportunistically capitalized for her second six seconds into first-half injury time. Londy Barrios’ ball out of the back found Idania Perez, who touched the ball between Marianela Morales and Jessica Pupo before tipping it ahead.

Martinez, streaking along the right, ran onto the loose ball, took a touch and finished to double Guatemala’s lead.

Cuba stiffened in the second half, forcing Guatemala goalkeeper Yoselin Franco o dive to push away Rachel Pelaez’s free kick in the 58th, and nearly scoring when Yoana Calderon dispossessed Brooks just outside the area before shooting wide.

But Cuba finally converted when Morales launched a ball from her own half that defender Marilyn Rivera appeared to have covered. But her trap got away from her, and Gallardo seized possession at the top of the area, took one touch and hit a left-footed shot past Vanessa Ovando.

Guatemala, however, quickly resumed control, keeping possession in the Cuban half and threatening the goal several times.

Cuban keeper Lucylena Martinez dived to thwart free kicks from Katherine Ramos in the 78th and Perez in the 79th, but the Caribbean islanders mounted little offense of their own to threaten Guatemala.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: Ana Martinez, Caribbean, cementos progreso, champion canada, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, Cuba, defending champion, eighth minute, Franco, free kick, gallardo, Guatemala, Haiti, injury time, Jessica Pupo, Katherine Ramos, loose ball, marianela, marilyn rivera, midfield, moment of silence, ovando, pelaez, pupo, Rachel, Shannon, shannon brooks, six seconds, Vanessa Ovando, yoselin

Five-year-old Brujas joins Champions League field

December 30, 2009

Brujas FC has won its first Costa Rican league title in its five-year existence and will join the CONCACAF Champions League field next season.

It prevailed over Puntarenas on penalties 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in Monday’s second leg of the Costa Rican Invierno finals, becoming the 11th team in the 24-club field and guaranteeing itself a place in the Preliminary Round.

Brujas, which replaced the folded Guanacasteca in the Costa Rican first division 2004, has qualified for the domestic league playoffs in eight of the 11 seasons since its founding, and every season since the playoffs were expanded to eight teams.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg on Wednesday, Puntarenas went ahead Tuesday with a 14th-minute goal by Luis Lara. Daniel Jimenez equalized in the opening minute of the second half, a goal which eventually forced extra time and penalties.

The qualification of Brujas fills nearly half of the field for the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League, joining Real Salt Lake, the Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders from the United States’ Major League Soccer, Monterey and Cruz Azul from Mexico, FAS of El Salvador, Municipal of Guatemala, Marathon from Honduras and Arabe Unido of Panama.

Walter Ferreti put itself in position to claim Nicaragua’s lone berth by beating Real Esteli 4-1 on Sunday and claiming the Central American league’s Apertura title 4-2 on aggregate. The team with the best overall record between the Apertura and Clausura champion will earn Nicaragua’s place in the Preliminary Round.

The 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League resumes with the first leg of the quarterfinals on March 9 when the Crew hosts Toluca.

NEW YORK

Concacaf

Tags: aggregate, apertura, Arabe, arabe unido, berth, Central American, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, cruz azul, Daniel Jimenez, extra time, Galaxy, Guatemala, Honduras, league playoffs, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Luis Lara, Major League Soccer, Mexico, minute goal, monterey, New York, Nicaragua, Panama, puntarenas, quarterfinals, real esteli, real salt lake, Seattle, seattle sounders, Toluca, United States, Walter Ferreti

Defending champ Canada to open U-20 Women’s Championship against Costa Rica

December 3, 2009

Canada will face Costa Rica to open the CONCACF Under-20 Women’s Championship while host Guatemala will play Cuba later on January 20 in the struggle to determine the confederation’s three qualifiers for the World Cup.

Trinidad & Tobago will open play for Group B the following day against Mexico, with the reigning world champion United States completing the first round of group matches against Jamaica immediately afterward.

Group A resumes on January 22 with Cuba taking on defending champion Canada, and Guatemala playing Costa Rica. Mexico and Jamaica face off on January 23 with Trinidad playing the United States.

Group play concludes with Costa Rica facing Cuba, and Guatemala playing Canada on January 24, while Jamaica faces Trinidad, and the United States confronting Mexico a day later.

The group winners will play the runners-up from the opposite group on January 28, with the championship and third-place matches set for Saturday, January 30.

The finalists and third-place winner will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Germany July 13-August 1.

Group A
Canada
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Cuba

Group B
United States
Mexico
Jamaica
Trinidad & Tobago

SCHEDULE
(Kickoff times in U.S. Eastern; local kickoff times in parentheses)
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, January 20
Canada vs. Costa Rica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Guatemala vs. Cuba, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Thursday, January 21
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Jamaica vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Friday, January 22
Cuba vs. Canada, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Guatemala vs. Costa Rica, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Saturday, January 23
Mexico vs. Jamaica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Trinidad & Tobago vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, January 24
Costa Rica vs. Cuba 11 a.m. (10 a.m.)
Guatemala vs. Canada, 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.)

Monday, January 25
Jamaica vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
United States vs. Mexico, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

SEMIFINALS
Thursday, January 28
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

FINALS
Saturday, January 30
Third Place
Semifinal losers, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)
Championship
Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

GUATEMALA CITY

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Tags: amp, august 1, B., Canada, champion canada, concacf, confederation, Costa Rica, Cuba, defending champion, face off, Germany, group play, group winners, Guatemala, guatemala city, Jamaica, january 20, january 24, kickoff, Mexico, parentheses, place winner, Rica Guatemala, runners, Tobago, Trinidad, U.S, United States, united states group, world champion, world cup in germany

Columbus-Toluca to open CCL quarters on March 9

November 26, 2009

Columbus will host Toluca on Tuesday, March 9 to open the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, kicking off the tournament’s knockout stages.

Marathon will be home against Mexico’s Pumas in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the following day in the first leg of their two-game series while Comunicaciones will host Pachuca of Mexico in Guatemala City later that night.

Panama’s Arabe Unido will be home against Cruz Azul on Thursday, March 11 to complete the first leg matches.

Pachuca will host the second leg against Comunicaciones in Hidalgo, Mexico, on Tuesday, March 16, the only game that day. Toluca will play Columbus and Arabe Unido will travel to Mexico City to take on Cruz Azul on Wednesday, March 17.

Pumas will complete the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 18.

The winners will advance to the semifinals March 30-April 1 and April 6-8 with the finals set for April 20-22 and April 27-29.

Quarterfinal Schedule
(Home teams listed first; times U.S. Eastern, local time in parentheses)
First Leg
Tuesday, March 9
Columbus (United States) vs. Toluca (Mexico), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Wednesday, March 10
Marathon (Honduras) vs. Pumas (Mexico), 8 p.m. (7 p.m.)
Comunicaciones (Guatemala) vs. Pachuca (Mexico), 10 p.m. (9 p.m.)

Thursday, March 11
Arabe Unido (Panama) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Second Leg
Tuesday, March 16
Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Comunicaciones (Guatemala), 10 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Wednesday, March 17
Toluca (Mexico) vs. Columbus (United States), 8 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Cruz Azul (Mexico) vs. Arabe Unido (Panama), 10 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Thursday, March 18
Pumas (Mexico) vs. Marathon (Honduras), 10 p.m. (8 p.m.)

NEW YORK

Concacaf

Tags: april 1, Arabe, arabe unido, COLUMBUS, concacaf champions league, cruz azul, game series, Guatemala, guatemala city, hidalgo mexico, Honduras, knockout stages, m cruz, marathon, march 11, march 17, Mexico, mexico city, New York, pachuca mexico, parentheses, san pedro sula, san pedro sula honduras, toluca mexico, U.S, United States

Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba claim Caribbean berths in CONCACAF Women’s U-20s

November 24, 2009

Cuba claimed the last berth in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, beating St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 Sunday to join Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica as the Caribbean representatives.

Trinidad will travel to Guatemala in January as the Caribbean champion, earning that honor with a 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Sunday and finishing atop the four-team finals with a better goal difference.

The trio will face Central American winner Costa Rica, which clinched its berth on September 6, host Guatemala and North American entrants Canada, Mexico and the United States in the eight-team finals.

Yelenia Gallardo scored four goals for Cuba, two in each half, against St. Kitts and Nevis, and finished with six in the Caribbean qualifying.

Karissa Rodney tallied in the 85th minute for Trinidad to earn the draw for Trinidad and Tobago after Semone Honeghan had given Jamaica the lead in the 68th.

Forward Mariah Shade and midfielder Natasha St. Louis finished atop the scoring leaders with eight goals apiece, same as Raquel Rodriguez of Costa Rica, who has six in a 9-0 victory over Honduras on August 16.

MACOYA, Trinidad

Tags: american winner, berth, berths, Canada, canada mexico, Caribbean, Central American, champion, concacaf women, Cuba, gallardo, goal difference, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, kitts and nevis, macoya, Mariah Shade, Mexico, mexico and the united states, midfielder, Natasha St. Louis, North American, raquel, Raquel Rodriguez, Rodney, semone, st kitts and nevis, Trinidad, trinidad and tobago

Real Salt Lake claims CCL Group Stage berth

November 24, 2009

Real Salt Lake will join the Columbus Crew in the Group Stage of next season’s CONCACAF Champions League, earning the second spot in the main phase of the continental club championship with its victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup final.

Sunday’s 5-4 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw marked the first time in the 14-year history of Major League Soccer that a team with a losing record in the MLS regular season has won the title. The Galaxy will play in the Preliminary Round along with the Seattle Sounders, which clinched its berth in the Champions League with a 2-1 victory September 2 against D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup.

Columbus, which will face Toluca in the quarterfinals of the this season’s Champions League in March, claimed its spot in next year’s Group Stage by finishing with the best record in the MLS regular season.

Twenty berths remain to be decided for the 2010-2011 Champions League, six in the Group Stage. Mexico will determine its first two entrants with the conclusion of the Apertura Liguilla in December.

The winners of the autumn tournaments in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama will be assured of at least Preliminary Round berths with the remainder of the spots to be chosen early next year.

Real Salt Lake, in its fifth year of existence, is only the second expansion team to win the MLS Cup and will be the ninth different team from the U.S. league to play in the Champions League since its inception.

SEATTLE

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