Mexico beat Jamaica, 4-0, and Costa Rica downed Trinidad & Tobago, 4-0, yesterday to clinch semifinal spots in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. Semifinal winners earn passage to this summer's Olympic Games in Greece.
Mexico and Costa Rica meet Friday, Feb. 6, in a game that will determine the final Group B standings.
In Group A, the USA, coming off a 4-3 win over Panama in its opener, faces Canada today while Panama meets Honduras.
Mexico went ahead 3-0 in the first 25 minutes against Jamaica, getting goals from Diego Martinez (penalty kick), Luis Ernesto Perez and Juan Pablo Garcia. Forward Rafael Marquez Lugo wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute.
Mexico had won its opener, 3-1, over Trinidad & Tobago. Mexico's last defeat in Olympic qualifying, a U-23 tournament, came April 26, 1992 against the USA.
Costa Rica, which opened with a 3-0 win over Jamaica, would finish first in the Group A with a tie against Mexico by virtue of superior goal difference.
The Ticos' win over Trinidad & Tobago included a 14-minute span in which Erick Scott scored twice and Winston Parks added another.
Canada, tonight's USA opponent, opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Honduras. Canada will be without playmaker Julian de Guzman, who has returned to German club Hannover 96.
The USA has lost Zak Whitbread to a partial tear in his left quadricep muscle. Jose Burciaga, who replaced Whitbread against Panama, is doubtful with a groin injury.
CONCACAF Qualifying Results
GROUP B
Feb 4 in Guadalajara
Costa Rica 4 (Sabrorio 30; Scott 64, 70, Parks 78) Trinidad & Tobago 0
Mexico 4 (Martinez 5 Pen, Perez 18, Garcia 25, Marquez 90) Jamaica 0.
Att.: 19,000.
CONCACAF Qualifying Schedule
(All games in Guadalajara, Mexico; all times are ET.)
GROUP A
(3 de Marzo)
Feb. 5
*Honduras-Panama, 7 pm
USA-Canada, 9 pm
Feb. 7
Canada-Panama, noon
*USA-Honduras, 2 pm
GROUP B
(Stadio Jalisco)
Feb. 6
Trinidad & Tobago-Jamaica, 7 pm
*Mexico-Costa Rica, 9 pm
SEMIFINALS
(Stadio Jalisco)
Feb. 10
*A1-B2, 6:30 pm
*B1-A2, 9 pm
*THIRD-PLACE GAME
(Stadio Jalisco)
Feb. 12, 6:30 pm
*FINAL
(Stadio Jalisco)
Feb. 12, 9 pm
* Shown live on closed-circuit.