SANDY, Utah — With an Olympic berth on the line, Canada had their chances Saturday, but couldn’t prevent powerhouse Mexico from earning their spot in Rio de Janeiro next summer as they fell 2-0 Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) defender Jackson Farmer started at right back, while fellow Residency graduate Ben Fisk started at left wing. Whitecaps FC striker Caleb Clarke came on as a substitute for Fisk in the 64th minute.
Mexico prevailed thanks to an early goal from Erick “Cubo” Torres and a second-half golazo from forward Hirving Lozano.
Torres' eventual game-winning goal opened the scoring just six minutes in. Hirving Lozano put an initial cross into the box that was blocked back to him. Lozano put another one into the area, this time finding the head of Torres, who put it past Canadian goalkeeper Maxine Crepeau.
In the 57th minute, Lozano did the damage himself. The Mexican forward blasted a perfect shot from just inside the box, a shot that went screaming into the upper corner of the far post to double the lead.
Canada came to life in the final 20 minutes. In the 68th, Clarke made an brilliant run all the way to the end line, fighting through a number of defenders before eventually being dispossesed at the end line.
In the 79th minute, Mexico was whistled for a handball in the box after a cross in from Farmer, offering Canada a chance to pull one back. Michael Petrasso stepped to the spot to try and spark the team. Mexico goalkeeper Gibran Lajud did his best job to unnerve Petrasso, and it worked: Petrasso’s attempt was saved. The Mexican goalkeeper stood tall and denied the follow up as well.
Canada now faces the United States in the third place match, aiming to keep their Olympic hopes alive: The winner of that match will travel to Colombia in March for a one-game playoff to decide the final CONCACAF berth in next summer's tournament.
