Mexico clinched the CONCACAF U-23 title with a 2-1 win over Jamaica in Round 4 of the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Mexico, which conceded its first goal of the tournament to Rhode Island star Andrew Williams late in the game, qualifies for the Olympic finals, where it will meet Ghana, Italy and South Korea.
Canada’s 0-0 tie with Costa Rica, coupled with Jamaica’s loss and El Salvador’s 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago, gave the host country second place.
Canada and Mexico play on the final day of action May 19.
The Canadians will face Australia, the Oceania champion, in a two-game playoff for the right to meet Spain, France and Saudi Arabia in the Olympics.
The Canadians used five U.S.-based college players in their game with Costa Rica: Jim Larkin (VCU), Antonio Capasso (Notre Dame), Carmine D’Onofrio (Stanford), Davide Xausa (Portland) and Linus Rhode (Portland). Most of the team’s other players compete in the A-League with Vancouver and Montreal.
Results
May 17 in Edmonton
Trinidad & Tobago 2 El Salvador 1. Goals: Raeburn (30), John (85); Lopez (77).
Trinidad & Tobago — Austin, Mason, A.John, Andrews, Garcia, Wise (Glasgow, 79), Dwarika, Andrews (Jeffrey, 71), Stern David, S.John, Raeburn (Shurland David, 64).
El Salvador — Rivera, Joya (Galan, 69), Hernandez, Prado, Merino (Cantura, 55), Cabrera, Lopez, Martinez, Cerritos, Montes, Flores (Hurtado, 33).
Canada 0 Costa Rica 0.
Canada — Larkin, Hikida, Sumner, Pizzolitto, DeVos, Capasso, Macey, Heald, D’Onofrio (Xausa, 55), Thompson (Rhode, 62), Nash.
Costa Rica — Morgan, Parks, Marin, Cordero, Wallace, Cardero, Sanchez (Morales, 60), Bennet, Soto, Sequeira, Wanchope.
Mexico 2, Jamaica 1. Goals: Blanco (17), Arellano (85); Williams (87).
Mexico — O.Sanchez, Oteo, Davino, F.Sanchez, Villa, Garcia, Lara, Arellano, Sol, Blanco, Abundis.
Jamaica — Reid, Messam, Johnson, Stewart, Bailey, Watkins (McDonald, 80), Dawes, Peterkin, Ricketts (Williams, 46), Lowe, Thomas.
Att.: 8,831.
Standings
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| Mexico | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| Canada | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 8 |
| Costa Rica | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Trin. & Tobago | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| El Salvador | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| Jamaica | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
o Mexico clinches first place and Olympic berth; Canada clinches second and playoff with Australia for final Olympic berth.