Mexico tops Canada in extra time to get to final

January 29, 2010

Mexico reached the final of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship for the first time Thursday, beating Canada 1-0 in extra time when Canada goalkeeper Cynthia LeBlanc let a seemingly innocent corner kick slip through her hands.

LeBlanc appeared to easily have Corral’s inswinging corner covered, but the ball went through her hands, banged off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute. She lunged into the goal and slapped the ball away, but not before it crossed the line.

The result set up a Saturday final between Mexico and the United States, which won the earlier semifinal against Costa Rica. It will be the first time in the history of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Canada has not played the United States in the final.

The victory also earned Mexico a third straight trip to the World Cup in July in Germany and fourth overall.

“It would be a big step for Mexico to be champion in addition to reaching Germany,” captain Lydia Rangel said.

The two-time and defending CONCACAF Canada has qualified all four times for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup and has another chance to become one of CONCACAF’s three entrants when it faces Costa Rica in Saturday’s third-place game.

Mexico’s Sandra Mayor hit the post in the 73rd with the best chance for either team before extra time, dribbling across the top of the area until she reached the arc and unleashed a right-footed blast that banged off the left upright.

Mexico started out with the possession and chances for the first 10 minutes, but Canada took control and had the better of play for the remainder of the half. Julie Casselman’s header from Chelsea Stewart’s cross in the 40th was covered by Mexican keeper Aurora Santiago at the far post for the Canadians’ best chance.

Canada started the second half and had more possession and opportunities until about the 72nd. But Corral capitalized on a turnover to get off a quick shot from just inside the top of the area, and Mayor’s blast off the corner of the goal was the best chance for either side in the first 90 minutes.

The goal appeared to inspire Mexico, which had three good chances in the final 16 minutes. Corral put a header off a cross from Mayor just wide in the 110th and Corral also had the first of two consecutive shots in the 116th that LeBlanc stretched to parry wide.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aurora, Canada, canadians, captain Lydia Rangel, casselman, CHELSEA, Chelsea Stewart, concacaf, Costa Rica, Cynthia LeBlanc, extra time, far post, Germany, Goalkeeper, guatemala city, Julie Casselman, lydia, Mexico, mexico and the united states, place game, possession, rangel, remainder, Sandra Mayor, Santiago, straight trip, turnover, United States, World Cup

2009: Honduras joins USA, Mexico in World Cup

December 22, 2009

To some, which teams would get to the World Cup from CONACACAF was clear.

After one game of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying – or the “hexagonal”, former international coach Bora Milutinovic made what many thought was a bold prediction.

“Mexico, USA and Honduras will be the first three,” he said when spied by a reporter in Columbus, Ohio, an hour after the United States beat Mexico 2-0 on February 11.

Milutinovic, who had coached all three teams, including Costa Rica, was amazingly prophetic.

Mexico and the United States have made it a habit, both qualifying in each of the last five World Cups. Honduras clinched a berth for the first time in more than a generation — since 1982.

The odd team out was Costa Rica, which had qualified for the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.

For the second time in three qualifying cycles, the Mexicans needed coach Javier Aguirre to rescue their campaign at the start of the final round. Sven Goran-Eriksson was fired as coach and Aguirre was brought in the rescue an underachieving side. He accomplished that feat in 2001.

Given a new direction and vitality, the Mexicans gained momentum and qualified as the hottest team in CONCACAF. They clinched a spot behind a 4-1 home win over El Salvador at Estadio Azteca October 10 to finish with a 6-1-3 record and 19 points.

The United States likewise claimed their place in the 32-team South Africa field with a game to spare, outlasting Honduras 3-2 in San Pedro Sula to earn a sixth straight trip to the World Cup and finish atop the qualifying standings (6-2-2, 20) – one point ahead of Mexico.

Conor Casey, who had never started a qualifier or an important international match and who had a 14-game scoreless streak, scored twice for the Americans. The encounter was so riveting that the capacity crowd applauded the effort, despite the home side going down to defeat when Honduran veteran Carlos Pavon put an 87th-minute penalty kick over the bar.

That sent the last berth down to the last match day to decide between Honduras and Costa Rica.

Costa Rica needed at least a draw against the United States in Washington and loss by Honduras in El Salvador. A Honduras victory would require a Costa Rica victory for the Ticos to advance.

Neither scenario occurred.

Pavon atoned for his penalty miss four days earlier with a 65th-minute tally to give Honduras (5-1-4, 16 points) a 1-0 victory and a chance to go to the World Cup. But its efforts seemed in vain, with Costa Rica taking a 2-0 first-half lead over the United States and still leading 2-1 heading into extra time.

But U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein scored 4 1/2 minutes into stoppage time, lifting the Americans to a 2-2 draw and earning himself hero status in Honduras.

Costa Rica (5-1-4, 16 points), was denied its berth on goal difference, but had another opportunity to qualify in a two-leg playoff against Uruguay, the fifth-place finisher from South America.

However, the Central American side lost at home to Uruguay in the first leg in San Jose, Costa Rica, on November 14, and wasn’t able to overtake the South Americans four days later in Montevideo, settling for a 1-1 draw and only hopes for 2012.

By Michael Lewis

Tags: aguirre, berth, bold prediction, capacity crowd, Carlos Pavon, Central American, COLUMBUS, concacaf, conor casey, El Salvador, estadio azteca, Honduras, hottest team, international coach, Javier Aguirre, jonathan bornstein, mexicans, Mexico, mexico and the united states, michael lewis, Montevideo, new direction, Ohio, penalty kick, San Jose, san pedro sula, scoreless streak, South Africa, South America, South Americans, straight trip, Sven Goran Eriksson, uruguay, vitality, Washington, World Cup, world cups

Uruguay denies Costa Rica World Cup trip with 1-1 draw

November 19, 2009

Uruguay held Costa Rica to a 1-1 draw Wednesday night, claiming the last berth in the 32-team World Cup field and denying the Ticos a third straight trip to the quadrennial championship.

Uruguay enjoyed the majority of possession and chances and advanced with a 2-1 aggregate victory in the two-leg playoff.

Sebastian Abreu put Uruguay ahead with his 28th career international goal in the 70th, but Walter Centeno restored the Ticos’ hopes only four minutes later.

Costa Rica, which led the United States by two goals with 18 minutes remaining on October 14 in a match where a victory would have earned it a fourth appearance at the World Cup, was 30 seconds from a berth but surrendered a goal 4½ minutes into injury time to settle for a 2-2 draw.

The result finished Costa Rica behind the United States, Mexico and Honduras in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Wednesday’s result extended Costa Rica’s winless streak against Uruguay to eight with only its second draw.

Uruguay dominated with Nacional midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, whose two goals helped his country into the second round at last month’s Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Lodeiro started in the fourth minute, bending a free kick from 35 yards that bounced just wide of the post, and twice more driving down the middle of the field setting up chances for Luis Suarez in the 34th and one of his own a minute later.

Uruguay’s best chance before Abreu’s goal came in a blast from distance by Diego Forlan that had to be tipped over the bar by Costa Rican keeper Keilor Navas in the seventh minute. Cristian Bolanos had a similar chance for Costa Rica in the 36th that forced goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to dive to his right to push it around the post.

Abreu, who replaced Suarez only five minutes earlier, put Uruguay ahead by out-leaping his marker at the edge of the six-yard box and driving Andres Scotti’s cross past Navas. Centeno finished his chance from just inside the area in the 74th to quiet the crowd at Estadio Centenario.

Alvaro Saborio had a chance in the 87th to give Costa Rica the lead, but his left-footer from inside the area struck the near-side netting.

Uruguay, which lost in a World Cup qualifying playoff four years ago to Australia, will be making its first appearance in the championship since 2002.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay

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Tags: aggregate victory, centenario, diego forlan, Fernando Muslera, five minutes, four minutes, free kick, injury time, international goal, luis suarez, midfielder, navas, scotti, Sebastian Abreu, straight trip, ticos, Walter Centeno, winless streak, world cup field

Costa Rica looks to seize opportunity at home

November 11, 2009

Costa Rica was 30 seconds from earning a trip to the World Cup next year. Now it has another 180 minutes to try again.

If the Costa Rican national team wants to qualify to the quadrennial championship in South Africa, it will have to capitalize on the home-field advantage Saturday in the first leg of its qualifying playoff against Uruguay at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José.

Any other result will make the Ticos’ desire of a third straight trip to the World Cup much more difficult. Four days later, la Tricolor will visit mythic Estadio Centenario in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo.

After failing to earn a direct berth – allowing a 95th minute equalizer to the United States on October 14 in Washington, Costa Rica now must face an opponent with a roster filled with foreign-based players such as Diego Forlan, last year’s leading scorer in Spain’s La Liga.

In Costa Rica, expectations are high. The 19,500 tickets put on sale sold out in a day and half, assuring a capacity crowd at el Saprissa.

Certain details are sure to affect the first leg, not the least of which is Saprissa’s artificial surface which gave the the Ticos a distinct advantage throughout World Cup qualifying. In its nine games at home, Costa Rica won eight by a combined score of 23-1, not counting its only blemish: a 3-0 defeat to Mexico during a three-game losing streak in August and September.

However, according to the history between the two teams, the numbers do not favor Rene Simoes’ charges. Costa Rica has never defeated La Celeste in eight tries, friendlies or competitive matches.

On Saturday, Costa Rica will have its full rosters available, including its most notable foreign-based player, Bryan Ruiz. Ruiz’s nine goals so far this season with FC Twente in the Netherlands make the youngster Costa Rica’s most dangerous attacker.

On the other side of the field, los Charruas have been hit by a number of a key absences, including injuries to Jorge Fucile of Porto in Portugal and Jorge “Malaka” Martinez of Italy’s Catania.

Additionally, Uruguay will without several players due to accumulated yellow or red-card suspensions: Martín Cáceres (Juventus, Italy), Andrés Scotti (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina), Diego Pérez (Mónaco, France) y Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica, Portugal). Porto midfielder Christian Rodriguez will miss both playoff matches after receiving a four-match ban for striking Argentina’s Gabriel Heinze after the final whistle on October 14.

Heading into the match, Simoes has opted to close all training sessions to the media to limit knowledge of his tactics and plans. Uruguay has moved its training camp to Guatemala, where it is preparing on an artificial surfance to get ready for the turf in el Saprissa.

With all his secrecy, however, Simoes will not be on the Costa Rica bench Saturday, having been ejected from the end of the 2-2 draw against the United States on October 14. FIFA subsequently suspended him for one match.

Both games will be officiated by European referees, the first having been assigned to Spain’s Alberto Indiano while the second to Switzerland’s Massimo Busacca.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

By Kenneth Hernández Cerdas

Tags: absences, Alberto Indiano, Andres Scotti, artificial surface, august and september, blemish, Bryan Ruiz, capacity crowd, charruas, diego forlan, distinct advantage, equalizer, estadio centenario, estadio ricardo saprissa, game losing streak, Guatemala, home field advantage, Jorge, jorge fucile, Kenneth Hernández, porto in portugal, Rene Simoes, Ricardo Saprissa, ruiz ruiz, South Africa, straight trip, uruguayan capital, Washington

Italy eliminates United States from U-17 World Cup

November 5, 2009

Jack McInerney missed a penalty and the United States finished with 10 men, falling to Italy 2-1 on Wednesday and exiting the Under-17 World Cup in the second round.

It was the fourth straight trip to the knockout rounds of the tournament for the United States, the only nation to have qualified for all 13 U-17 world championships.

Italy used goals by Giacomo Beretta in the 29th and Pietro Iemmello in the 56th to subdue the Americans, one of two teams from CONCACAF to advance past the group stage.

Nick Palodichuk scored the lone goal for the United States in the 51st minute, which equalized until Iemmello replied five minutes later for Italy.

McInerney, who had two goals during the group phase, had a chance to put the Americans ahead in the 17th minute after Italian defender Federico Mannini was called for a handball, but the 16-year-old from the Atlanta region was unable to capitalize on the penalty.

Reserve Italian goalkeeper Francesco Bardi, playing in place of injured regular Mattia Perin, was able to save the spot kick.

McInerney had another chance in the 49th, taking a ball after Luis Gil had worked past two defenders, but put his shot from eight meters off the crossbar.

The Americans were reduced to 10 men in the 93rd minute when Eriq Zaveleta was ejected after apparently elbowing Italy’s Felice Natalino.

Mexico, CONCACAF’s last remaining team will face Korea Republic on Thursday in its attempt to reach the quarterfinals.

KADUNA, Nigeria

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Tags: Atlanta, atlanta region, crossbar, Felice Natalino, Francesco Bardi, giacomo beretta, Goalkeeper, group phase, group stage, handball, jack mcinerney, Kaduna, korea republic, lone goal, Luis Gil, mattia, Mexico, natalino, Nick Palodichuk, perin, Pietro Iemmello, quarterfinals, straight trip, world championships, World Cup, zaveleta

Injury time equalizer lifts United States, denies Costa Rica World Cup berth

October 15, 2009

Jonathan Bornstein scored with a head 4½ minutes into injury time to give the United States a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica on Wednesday and deny the Ticos a third straight trip to the World Cup.

The goal capped a U.S. rally from a two-goal first-half deficit, with the Americans getting a pair of goals in the final 18 minutes.

The result finished the United States atop the “hexagonal” with 20 points, one ahead of Mexico.

Costa Rica seemed headed for South Africa after Bryan Ruiz scored two goals three minutes apart midway through the first half. But the U.S. rally left Costa Rica with 16 points, same as Honduras but behind on goal difference. Honduras beat El Salvador 1-0 in its game Wednesday night to earn only its second World Cup appearance and first since 1982.

The Ticos have another chance to qualify, advancing to a two-leg playoff against Uruguay, the fifth-placed finisher from South America, November 11 and November 14 for the final berth in the 32-team field in South Africa.

The draw was the United States’ only tie in nine home games in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, having won the previous eight. The Americans were playing 36 hours after learning that teammate Charlies Davies was badly injured in an early Tuesday morning one-car automobile accident in the Washington area in which another person died.

Davies, who suffered facial, leg and elbow fractures and a lacerated bladder, had several hours of surgery Tuesday and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said. Some teammates wore undershirts with Davies’ name and banners could be seen around the stadium bearing his likeness.

Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes, with the goals coming against the run of play. Needing a victory to assure itself of a World Cup berth, Costa Rica started with three defenders and five in the midfield, pushing Pablo Herrera up from his right back spot.

Michael Bradley pulled the United States within a goal in the 72nd and Bornstein shed his marker to nod Robbie Rogers’ corner from just outside the six-yard box.

The United States had the better possession early and the first serious chance on a counter when Conor Casey, who scored two in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Honduras that qualified the Americans for the World Cup, shot high despite being unmarked in the ninth minute.

Walter Centeno forced U.S. keeper Tim Howard into a reaction save two minutes later, volleying a looping cross to the right post.

Ruiz put Costa Rica ahead, taking a ball from Michael Barrantes on the left side of the area, turning defender Oguchi Onyewu to get to the byline and then drilling a shot that Howard was able to deflect but not stop.

Three minutes later, Ruiz took his throw-in back from Walter Centeno, took a touch toward the penalty area and then unleashed a swirling left-footer that curled around a stretched Howard into the far-side netting. It was his fifth goal of qualifying, one behind team leader Alvaro Saborio.

With the lead seemingly secure, Herrera dropped back into a more convention 4-4-2 and the United States again dominated possession, but was plagued by poor finishing. Landon Donovan shot high twice and had a weak effort in the 44th with only goalkeeper Keilor Navas, who also thwarted Jozy Altidore a minute later when the American forward’s marker had fallen in the area.

Navas repeatedly raced off his line to punch balls out of danger, defusing several dangerous situations.

The Americans dominated possession in the second half as well and finally converted on a rebound. Donovan settled a flicked on cross and got off a right-footed shot from inside the top of the area that Navas blocked, but couldn’t hold. Bradley banged into the net with a right-footed swipe.

The United States’ chances seemed doomed when Onyewu was carried off after tearing a tendon in his left knee in the 83rd minute, reducing his team to 10 men with manager Bob Bradley having already used his three substitutions.

But the Americans continued to generate chances and hurriedly took a corner that saw Bornstein slip through a crowd and head Rogers’ corner off the right post.

The wild finish was preceded with Costa Rica manager Rene Simoes being ejected in the 89th minute, berating fourth official Haro Delgadillo for what appeared a dispute over a substitution.

WASHINGTON

By Brian Trusdel

Tags: car automobile, early tuesday, elbow fractures, goal difference, home games, injury time, jonathan bornstein, likeness, Michael Bradley, midfield, pablo herrera, stable condition, straight trip, team spokesman, three minutes, ticos, tuesday morning, world cup appearance, world cup berth

Simoes tries to resurrect Costa Rica against Trinidad

October 7, 2009

Desperate for a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup alive, Costa Rica has turned to former Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago coach Rene Simoes to salvage the Ticos’ chances.

Once alone atop CONCACAF’s final hexagonal stage, the Ticos have lost three straight matches by a combined score of 8-0 and have slipped to fourth in the six-team field, one point behind Honduras heading into Saturday’s nest-to-last game against Trinidad in San Jose, Costa Rica.

“A team that has gained 12 points in five qualifying games in CONCACAF has to be strong,” Simoes said. “South Africa 2010 is still a good possibility for us because Costa Rica still has a strong team.”

The Brazilian, who most recently coached Portuguesa in Brazil’s Serie B, replaced Rodrigo Kenton, who was fired on September 14.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Kenton for all of the work he has done,” Costa Rica Football Federation president Eduardo Li said at a press conference. “But results are important, and we have not got the right ones over the course of our last … matches.”

Three points Saturday are vital for the Ticos because their final match is against the United States in Washington on October 14. The Americans can clinch sixth straight trip to the World Cup with a win in San Pedro Sula Saturday night.

A fourth-place CONCACAF finish would mean Costa Rica, which is attempting to qualify for a third straight World Cup, would meet the fifth-place finisher in South America — currently Argentina.

Trinidad, meanwhile, will attempt to play the role of spoiler Saturday, having already been eliminated.

Richard Latapy, who retired from international football shortly after Simoes was named T&T coach in 2001, will use the Soca Warriors’ final two games as an audition for some of the county’s younger players.

Trinidad, which sits at the bottom of the six-team group with five points from eight matches, will host Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 14 in its final qualifying match.

“We want to give some of the younger players the experience of playing at this level,” Latapy said. “It is very possible (that they can play on Saturday). They are here and they are training. My job is to put the best possible 11 on the pitch and to have the best squad available.”

Among those called into camp is under-20 captain Leston Paul and under-17 Shahdon Winchester, while Jlloyd Samuels will miss the match with a pulled groin.

“It’s a pleasure always to be called up to a senior team,” Paul said. “I was invited in the past, but now being here with the rest of the players going into a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica is definitely something more intense and of a higher experience.”

By Dylan Butler

Tags: captain Leston, concacaf, Costa Rica, Dylan Butler, Eduardo Li, federation president, five points, football federation, hasely crawford stadium, Jamaica, last game, latapy, Mexico, Mr. Kenton, place finisher, president eduardo, Rene Simoes, Richard Latapy, Rodrigo Kenton, San Jose, san jose costa rica, san pedro sula, soca warriors, South Africa, south africa 2010, South America, straight trip, straight world, t amp, team group, Trinidad, two games, United States, Washington

El Salvador wins CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship for first regional title since 1943

June 22, 2009

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Tomas Hernandez scored twice to spark a four-goal surge and rally El Salvador past Costa Rica 6-3 on Sunday for the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, its first regional title since 1943.

Both teams already had clinched berths in the Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22 with their semifinal victories on Saturday. El Salvador earned a second straight trip to the world finals while Costa Rica advanced after five years of trying.

Earlier in the third-placed game, host Mexico edged the United States 5-4.

El Salvador, which made headlines last year by qualifying for the World Cup with its infamous band of local fishermen, led on Jose Israel’s goal with 1:26 left in the opening period. But Greiven Pacheco scored the first of his two consecutive goals 26 seconds later to put Costa Rica ahead 2-1 with 9:27 remaining in the second.

Hernandez then scored twice in 17 seconds midway through the period and Jose Agustin Ruiz and Walter Torres added goals before the end of the second to put El Salvador in control 5-2.

Pacheco scored a third goal early in the third but Francisco “Frank” Valasquez restored the three-goal cushion and ended any rally hopes with 4:49 remaining.

“We’ve improved a lot compared to last year,” El Salvador goalkeeper and captain Luis Rodas said. “The experience we’ve had going to Marseille and compete with the best teams in the world helped us a great deal.”

The title for El Salvador was the first since it won the Central American and Caribbean Confederation (CCCF) title during World War II.

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Tags: beach soccer, captain Luis Rodas, cccf, Central American, concacaf, CONCACAF Beach, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, consecutive goals, Dubai, El Salvador, Francisco, Frank, game host, Goalkeeper, infamous band, Jose, jose agustin, Jose Agustin Ruiz, Marseille, Mexico, pacheco, puerto vallarta, puerto vallarta mexico, qualifying for the world cup, regional title, rodas, soccer championship, soccer world cup, straight trip, tomas hernandez, united arab emirates, United States, valasquez, Walter Torres, world war ii

Costa Rica, El Salvador claim berths in Beach Soccer World Cup

June 21, 2009

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Costa Rica and El Salvador both advanced to their first Beach Soccer World Cup, eliminating favorites Mexico and the United States in the semifinals of the CONCACAF championship on Saturday.

Costa Rica outlasted El Tri 2-1 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw while El Salvador subdued the United States 5-3 to assure CONCACAF of a champion from neither Mexico nor the USA for the first time.

It will be El Salvador’s second straight trip and Costa Rica’s first to the Beach Soccer World Cup, this year set for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.

In an earlier game, Canada handed the Bahamas its third straight loss, 4-3, to claim fifth place.

Jose Agustin scored for a third straight game, tallying twice in the opening four minutes to give El Salvador a 2-0 lead. The United States twice pulled within a goal, the last time when Raphael Xexeo scored to cut the deficit to 5-4, but Agustin scored his third of the game with 2:23 remaining to seal the victory for El Salvador.

Isaac Rodriguez and Christopher Flores rallied Mexico from an early deficit to give El Tri a 2-1 lead. But Richard Sterling equalized for Costa Rica with 5:40 to go in the third period and send the game to extra time. A goalless extra period sent the match to penalties, where Gustavo Rosales hit the post on his attempt, giving Enzo Mora the chance to claim a World Cup berth for Costa Rica.

“I can hardly believe we’re actually going to the World Cup, but we deserve it more than anybody,” Costa Rica coach Christian Ovares said. “We beat Mexico in their home in front of thousands of fans. I think we‘ve made a point. We belong among the best 16 teams in the world.”

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Tags: Agustin, Bahamas, beach soccer, berths, Canada, Christian Ovares, Christopher Flores, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, Dubai, El Salvador, el tri, extra time, flores, four minutes, Gustavo Rosales, Isaac Rodriguez, Jose, jose agustin, Mexico, mexico and the united states, mora, penalty kicks, puerto vallarta, puerto vallarta mexico, richard sterling, soccer world cup, straight game, straight loss, straight trip, third period, united arab emirates, United States, USA, world cup berth

Costa Rica tops Canada 2-1; Ticos, Trinidad claim last semifinal berths in CONCACAF U-20 Championship

March 12, 2009

MACOYA, Trinidad – Marcos Urena scored in the 72nd minute and gave Costa Rica a 2-1 victory over Canada on Wednesday, sending the Ticos to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship and a second straight trip to the U-20 World Cup.

The loss eliminated Canada and prevented it from reaching the U-20 World Cup for a fifth straight time. The result also assured Trinidad & Tobago of a semifinal berth and its first trip to the U-20 World Cup since 1990.

Trinidad confirmed its place in the semifinals later Wednesday, rallying with a pair of second-half goals to draw 2-2 with Mexico.

Costa Rica finished with seven points atop Group B, two ahead of Trinidad, and will face Group A runner-up Honduras in Friday’s semifinals. Group A winner United States will take on Trinidad in the other semifinal

Randy Edwini-Bonsu, who had both goals in a 2-0 victory over Mexico, gave the Canadians the lead in the 11th minute, but David Guzman equalized for Costa Rica in the 25th.

The result settled the last of CONCACAF’s four berths in the U-20 World Cup in Egypt September 24-October 16.

Juma Clarence scored in the 52nd and Uriah Bentick added another eight minutes later to lead Trinidad’s comeback from a 2-0 halftime deficit. Chivas de Guadalajara teammates Juan Ocampo and Antonio Salazar put Mexico ahead with goals in the ninth minute and first-half injury time, giving El Tri the only lead it held in the tournament.

Mexico, which was playing less than month after Juan Carlos Chavez replaced Jesus “Chucho” Ramirez as coach of the team, failed to qualify for the second time in three tries.

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