The United States and Canada have been on a collision course since well before the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup began. It is a growing rivalry in women's soccer, building since former Norway coach Even Pellerud took charge of the Canadian women following the 1999 Women's World Cup and played out at every level of the game.

Canadians are a fixture in the WUSA, the W-League — which includes clubs north of the border — and in the U.S. college game, which provided the bulk of players on both sides when the Americans edged Canada, 1-0, in overtime in first FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship final in September.

Under Pellerud, whose Norwegian squad won the 1995 Women's World Cup, Canada has quickly closed the gap that had separated the U.S. women from everyone else in the region. The Americans continue to be among the world's elite; the Canadians have joined them.

The rivalry is beginning to occupy, in women's soccer, similar ground as U.S.-Mexico in the men's game: a classico involving neighboring giants. This frames the anticipated showdown in Saturday's Gold Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

But first things first, and both teams have bigger — if far less difficult — challenges to get through first: Tonight's Gold Cup semifinals at Safeco Field in Seattle are the most critical matches of the tournament, with the winners grabbing the region's two automatic berths in next year's Women's World Cup in China.

The U.S. takes on Costa Rica at 7 p.m. PST, with Canada-Mexico following at 9:30. The losers — Panama and Mexico, most likely — will battle Saturday in Pasadena for the right to play the No. 3 team from next spring's Asian confederation qualifiers, with one more WWC berth on the line.

The Americans and Canadians have so dominated the Gold Cup, are so far ahead of their challengers — ''Thirty years ahead,'' Mexico coach Leo Cuellar described the U.S. women — that the most entertaining matches, by a long margin, have been those involving the other six sides. It is unfathomable that either will see much trouble in the semifinals.

The United States struggled to score in its first two Group A matches, 3-0 victories over Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, but dictated every other element of the game. The Americans' quick, versatile roster has run roughshod over foes, and their 9-0 rout last weekend over Panama — an answer of sorts to the prolific Canadians — underscored that dominance.

Tiffeny Milbrett scored five goals in the first 34 minutes against the Panamanians as Aly Wagner put on a passing clinic, delivering sublime balls from distance. Kristine Lilly had a superb game against Mexico, playing critical roles on all three goals; Cat Reddick, like Wagner a collegian, impressed greatly as left back against bunkering T&T. Joy Fawcett, as always seems the case, has been flawless in the middle of the back line.

Canada was more impressive in the Group A matches in Victoria, British Columbia, dispatching Haiti, 11-1, and Jamaica, 9-0, to start. Sharpness was lacking in a 3-0 win over Costa Rica that wasn't nearly so close.

Christine Sinclair, the All-American striker from the University of Portland, has scored a Gold Cup-best seven goals, four of them against Haiti, but defenses can't focus on her. Atlanta Beat star Charmaine Hooper has put away a half-dozen, and 16-year-old midfielder Kara Lang scored four — two of them spectacular long-range strikes — to destroy the Jamaicans.

Sinclair and Lang are among nine players Pelerud called in from the U-19 team. Two of the nine — Sinclair (38 caps, 32 goals) and University of Washington defender Clare Rustad (21 caps) — are full national team veterans. Lang has made 13 appearances, scoring 10 goals.

The Canadians are a physical team, especially up top with Sinclair's size and Hooper's bruising style, with skill. Silvana Burtini has done well on the left flank in support of Hooper, Sinclair and Lang, and Notre Dame sophomore Candace Chapman's speed on the right flank has unhinged defenses. The back line and goalkeepers, like the Americans', haven't been tested defensively, so outside backs Breanna Boyd (University of Nebraska) and Randee Hermus have been heavily involved in the attack.

The United States and Canada are the only nations to win a CONCACAF qualifying tournament. The Americans won in 1991, 1993, 1994 and the first Gold Cup in 2000, beating Canada, 5-0, in the '91 final. The Canadians won in 1998, when the Americans didn't participate.

Mexico's speed and skill could give Canada some trouble, certainly more than the Group 2 foes could muster. W-League MVP Maribel Dominguez has been a revelation up top; UCLA freshman Iris Mora has been slowed by a longstanding back injury, but she and Dominguez are a fine striking tandem. Former Notre Dame teammates (and WUSA rivals) Monica Gonzalez (Boston Breakers) and Monica Gerardo (Washington Freedom) form a decent spine. Cornell University goalkeeper Jennifer Molina, starting in place of injured No. 1 keeper Linnea Quinones, has been outstanding.

Mexico, too, is closing the gap, but Cuellar was unable to bring his best team to the Gold Cup. Quinones is one of three San Jose CyberRays missing from the Tricolores' lineup. Veterans Lisa Nanez and Gina Eagleson begged off to participate in the CyberRays' offseason camp; both are fighting for roster spots with San Jose.

Costa Rica, by far the best of the rest, has skill — a third-place matchup with Mexico would be entertaining — but likely can't compete with the Americans. Forward Megan Chavez, with four goals, and midfielder Shirley Cruz have been the most impressive Ticas.

All Gold Cup games are broadcast live on Fox Sports World.

CONCACAF WOMEN'S GOLD CUP

GROUP 1

Oct. 27 at Pasadena, Calif.

Panama 4 (Bedoya 29, De Mera 35, 61, 66) Trinidad & Tobago 2 (Attin-Johnson 39, St. Louis 65).

United States 3 (Wagner 5, Parlow 42, MacMillan 93+) Mexico 0.

Oct. 29 at Fullerton, Calif.

United States 3 (Parlow 19, Chastain 54, Milbrett 62) Trinidad & Tobago 0.

Mexico 5 (Gonzalez pen. 4, 22, Sandoval 37, Leyva 65, Dominguez 78) Panama 1 (Valderrama 26).

Nov. 2 at Seattle

Mexico 2 (Gerardo 7, 60) Trinidad & Tobago 0.

United States 9 (Milbrett 3, 5, 9, 22, 34, MacMillan 12, 14, Roberts 40, Wambach 85) Panama 0.

Final Standings
United States 3-0-0 15-0 9
Mexico 2-1-0 7-4 6
Panama 1-2-0 5-16 3
Trin. & Tobago 0-3-0 2-9 0

GROUP 2

Oct. 30 at Victoria, British Columbia

Costa Rica 2 (Megan Chavez 43, 69) Jamaica 0

Canada 11 (Hooper 6, 27, 33, Burtini 13, 85, Sinclair 16, 44, 74, 87, Chapman 31, own goal Fenelon 80) Haiti 1 (Marseille 15)

Nov. 1 at Victoria, British Columbia

Costa Rica 5 (Cruz 53, 69, Megan Chavez 62, 87, Briceno 91+) Haiti 0.

Canada 9 (Sinclair 13, 77, Hooper 20, Walsh 42, Lang 45, 63, 84, 92+, Hermus 56) Jamaica 0.

Nov. 3 at Victoria, British Columbia

Haiti 2 (Gilles 13, 56) Jamaica 1 (Sinclair 59)

Canada 3 (Hooper pen. 28, 42, Sinclair 47) Costa Rica 0

Final Standings
Canada 3-0-0 23-1 9
Costa Rica 2-1-0 7-3 6
Haiti 1-2-0 3-17 0 Jamaica 0-3-0 1-13 0

FINAL FOUR

Semifinals

Nov. 6 at Seattle
United States vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m.
Canada vs. Mexico, 9:30 p.m.
(Winners qualify for 2003 Women's World Cup)

Finals

Nov. 9 at Pasadena, Calif.
Third-place game, 4:30 p.m.
(Winner advances to playoff with Asia No. 3 team for berth in 2003 WWC)
Championship, 7 p.m.

All times Pacific

GOALSCORERS
1. Christine Sinclair (Canada) 7
2. Charmaine Hooper (Canada) 6
Tiffeny Milbrett (USA) 6
4. Megan Chavez (Costa Rica) 4
Kara Lang (Canada) 4
6. Amarelis DeMera (Panama) 3
Shannon MacMillan (USA) 3
8. Silvana Burtini (Canada) 2
Shirley Cruz (Costa Rica) 2
Monica Gerardo (Mexico) 2
Marie-Denise Gilles (Haiti) 2
Monica Gonzalez (Mexico) 2
Cindy Parlow (USA) 2
14. Maylee Attin-Johnson (T&T) 1
Maritzenia Bedoya (Panama) 1
Xiomara Briceno (Costa Rica) 1
Candace Chapman (Canada) 1
Brandi Chastain (USA) 1
Maribel Dominguez (Mexico) 1
Randee Hermus (Canada) 1
Fatima Leyva (Mexico) 1
Kencia Marseille (Haiti) 1
Marlene Sandoval (Mexico) 1
Tasha St. Louis (T&T) 1
Geneva Sinclair (Jamaica) 1
Diana Valderrama (Panama) 1
Aly Wagner (USA) 1
Amy Walsh (Canada) 1
Abby Wambach (USA) 1