Canada U-20's reach CONCACAF semis

January 24, 2010

Canada reached the semifinals of the 2010 CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship following a 3-1 victory over tournament hosts Guatemala on Sunday afternoon.

Adriana Leon, Vanessa Legault-Cordisco, and Bryanna McCarthy scored Canada's goals, while Shannon Brooks struck Guatemala's lone reply. The result saw Carolina Morace's squad finish top of Group A after claiming three straight victories. "Our players did what was asked of them," Morace told CanadaSoccer.com. "I am happy that after three games, we have improved every match."

Canada are now one win away from qualifying for a fifth-straight FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. They face Group B runners-up Mexico on Thursday, while the United States take on Costa Rica in the other semifinal. The tournament finalists and the third-place match winner will qualify for Germany 2010.

Morace's starting XI included the Vancouver Whitecaps FC pair of defender Shannon Woeller and midfielder Chelsea Stewart, while former Whitecaps player Lexi Marton also started in the Canadian backline.

Needing a 2-0 victory to advance to the semis, Guatemala pressed from the outset, while Canada exploited that tactic to hit the Central Americans on the counter-attack.

Leon was the beneficiary of a ball in the 14th minute that came down the right to Julie Casselman, who sent a short square ball to Chloe Malette. Malette turned inside to elude Guatemala defender Brooks and sent a through ball between Marilyn Rivera and Pamela Roman to Leon in the hosts' box. Leon hit a right-footed shot that Guatemala goalkeeper Stephani Castellon was able to get a hand to, but not stop from bounding inside the far post for 1-0.

Canada doubled their lead on Legault-Cordisco's penalty in the 26th minute after Siliva Mijangos was adjudged to have grabbed the shirt of Malette by match referee Shane De Silva. Brooks appeared to out-leap Malette and cleanly head the high ball away, but replays clearly showed Malette's stretched jersey, as she attempted to jump for a header in the Guatemala box.

McCarthy used her size, speed, and strength to increase Canada's lead to 3-0 in the 38th minute. Marton launched a free kick from her own half that bounced once before McCarthy out-muscled Guatemala defender Ana Marroquin on her left at the top corner of the box. She switched the ball to her left foot and held off Brooks with her right arm before shooting past an onrushing Castellon for a three-goal Canada lead.

Guatemala continued to press in the second half and were finally rewarded in the 55th minute. Maria Monterosso beat Canadian defender Molly Allen down the right side before sending a cross into the six-yard box, where Brooks dived to head home a consolation goal for the hosts.

Also advancing to the semis from Group A were Costa Rica, as they finished as group runners-up following a 3-1 victory over Cuba on Sunday.

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