The U.S. under-19 womenÆs national team is overwhelmingly expected to qualify for the FIFA U-19 WomenÆs World Championship with a victory Friday evening over Mexico in Montreal.
Canada will take on Costa Rica in the other semifinal at the CONCACAF U-19 qualifying tournament, with the winner advancing to the Nov. 10-27 World Championship in Thailand.
The Americans, who two years ago won the first U-19 World Championship, dominated the Dominican Republic and Trinidad & Tobago in their first two group matches before playing Costa Rica to a scoreless tie on Tuesday.
Cold and wet conditions, which left some of the Molson Stadium turf waterlogged, hindered the U.S. attack, but Coach Mark Krikorian said it made little difference.
ôWe werenÆt precise enough, we werenÆt sharp enough,ö Krikorian said Thursday. ôI think everyone was a little annoyed we didnÆt perform better on the day. In some way, this might be a good thing for us. I see a renewed urgency in our group. At the end of this, [being shut out by Costa Rica] could be a bonus for us.ö
The Americans have been led by forward Kerri Hanks, who scored hat tricks in the first two matches, defender Rachel Buehler, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and midfielder Megan Rapinoe, who appears unlikely to play Friday after suffering a bruised ankle early in the Costa Rica match.
Mexico, nearly half its roster Americans of Mexican descent, is led by forwards Carmen Padilla and Monica Ocampo.
Canada, runner-up to the United States in the 2002 World Championship, went unbeaten in its group, beating Mexico, 3-0, on Tuesday. Coach Ian BridgeÆs team is led by WomenÆs World Cup veterans Kara Lang and Brittany Timko.
GROUP A
W L T GF-GA Pts
Canada 3 0 0 14-0 9
Mexico 2 1 0 11-6 6
Panama 1 2 0 3-12 3
Jamaica 0 3 0 1-12 0
Friday, May 28
At Ottawa
Mexico 5 (Mendoza 40, Ocampo 44, 69, 85, Padilla 48) Panama 1 (own goal 45)
At Montreal
Canada 4 (Belanger 25, Jamani 62, 74, Lang 68) Jamaica 0
Sunday, May 30 (at Ottawa)
Jamaica 2 (Reid 37, 83) Mexico 6 (Padilla 8, 60, 90, Munoz 35, Mendoza pen. 53, Ocampo 87)
Canada 7 (Jamani 3, 34, Robinson 31, Belanger 51, Lang 57, Timko 69, Cicchini 85) Panama 0
Tuesday, June 1 (at Ottawa)
Panama 2 (Rodriguez 36, DeMera 58) Jamaica 0
Canada 3 (Belanger 51, Zurrer 63, 66) Mexico 0
GROUP B
W L T GF-GA Pts
United States 2 0 1 25-1 7
Costa Rica 2 0 1 15-1 7
Trinidad & Tobago 1 2 0 3-16 3
Dominican Republic 0 3 0 1-27 0
Friday, May 28
At Ottawa
United States 14 (Hanks 3, 4, 21, Buehler 4, McNeill 16, 19, 44, 62, Averbuch 36, Kron 43, Lindstrom 45, Rapinoe 52, 66, Orand 87) Dominican Republic 0
At Montreal
Costa Rica 4 (Villalobos 4, 81, Mendoza 19, Esquivel 91+) Trinidad & Tobago 1 (Mollon 64)
Sunday, May 30 (at Montreal)
Costa Rica 11 (Villalobos 2, Rios 9, Chacon 14, 65, 74, Cruz 37, 60, Esquivel 58, Wilson 77, Montes 87, Rodriguez 90) Dominican Republic 0
United States 11 (Averbuch 8, Woznuk 10, own goal Rigsby 26, 77, Hanks 39, 67, 85, Davis 50, 64, Buehler 73, Rapinoe 93+) Trinidad & Tobago 1 (Cordner 86)
Tuesday, June 1 (at Montreal)
Trinidad & Tobago 2 (Burton 13, Cordner 46+) Dominican Republic 1 (Santelis 45)
United States 0 Costa Rica 0
Semifinals
June 4 at Montreal
United States vs. Mexico, 5:30 p.m. EDT
Canada vs. Costa Rica, 8 p.m. EDT
Final/Third: June 6 at Ottawa
GOALSCORERS
Kerri Hanks, U.S. 6
Kia McNeill, U.S. 4
Monica Ocampo, Mexico 4
Aysha Jamani, Canada 4
Carmen Padilla, Mexico 4
Josee Belanger, Canada 3
Maciel Chacon, Costa Rica 3
Megan Rapinoe, U.S. 3
Karla Villalobos, Costa Rica 3
Yael Averbuch, U.S. 2
Rachel Buehler, U.S. 2
Kennya Cordner, Trin. & Tobago 2
Shirley Cruz, Costa Rica 2
Bristyn Davis, U.S. 2
Amanda Esquivel, Costa Rica 2
Kara Lang, Canada 2
Alexandra Mendoza, Mexico 2
Venecia Reid, Jamaica 2
Emily Zurrer, Canada 2
Shurell Burton, Trin. & Tobago 1
Amanda Cicchini, Canada 1
Amarelis DeMera, Panama 1
Stephanie Kron, U.S. 1
Stacy Lindstrom, U.S. 1
Kandy Mendoza, Costa Rica 1
Ahkeela Mollon, Trin. & Tobago 1
Miriam Montes, Costa Rica 1
Leslie Munoz, Mexico 1
Alexa Orand, U.S. 1
Jocelyn Rios, Costa Rica 1
Jodi-Ann Robinson, Canada 1
Ivonne Rodriguez, Costa Rica 1
Yohan Rodriguez, Panama 1
Yohanna Santelis, Dom. Rep. 1
Brittany Timko, Canada 1
Amara Wilson, Costa Rica 1
Angie Woznuk, U.S. 1
Own goals 3
ATTENDANCE
Total: 3,500 (583 average)
Ottawa: 2,500 (833 average)
Montreal: 1,000 (333 average)