The United States will battle Mexico for a berth in this fallÆs FIFA U-19 WomenÆs World Championship after finishing first in Group B of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament following a 0-0 tie Tuesday with Costa Rica.

Poor field conditions at Molson Stadium in Montreal, the product of heavy rains that left the turf slick in some places and waterlogged in others, took a toll on the attacks. The Americans and Ticas, who had qualified for the semifinals after their first two group matches, managed few solid chances after scoring a combined 40 goals in their victories Friday and Sunday.

The U.S. women, who scored 14 goals against the Dominican Republic and 11 against Trinidad & Tobago, was the dominant team, outshooting Costa Rica, 10-2, and taking eight corner kick to none for the Ticas.

æÆI give Costa Rica a lot of credit, as they were very organized in their defending and got a lot of numbers behind the ball,ÆÆ U.S. coach Mark Krikorian said. ôWe certainly had our chances, but we werenÆt quite precise enough with our finishing or with the final pass, so it became a bit of a stalemate. But in the end we got the result that allowed us to win our group.ÆÆ

Canada won Group A, beating Mexico, 3-0, and will meet Costa Rica in the second semifinal Friday night in Montreal. The Americans will face Mexico in the opener, at 5:30 p.m. EDT. The semifinal winners advance to the Nov. 10-27 World Championship in Thailand.

The CONCACAF final will be played Sunday in Ottawa.

Canada scored three second-half goals in Ottawa, surging ahead on Josee BelangerÆs third goal of the tournament and finishing off the Mexicans with goals in the 63rd and 66th minutes by University of Illinois recruit Emily Zurrer.

Panama and Trinidad & Tobago also posted victories in games involving teams already eliminated from contention.

The U.S. womenÆs best chances came midway through the first half and about 10 minutes into the second half. They created three in succession:

— Rachel Buehler, who scored on headers in the first two games, nodded Stephanie KronÆs cross on target in the 21st minute, but Costa Rican goalkeeper Yirlana Arroyo — replacing full national-teamer Silvia Arias, who was suspended after receiving a red card in Costa RicaÆs opener against Trinidad & Tobago.

— Becky Sauerbrunn then blasted Yael AverbuchÆs corner kick over the crossbar from close range in the 22nd minite.

— Kia McNeill, who scored four goals against the Dominican Republic in the AmericansÆ opener, forced Arroyo to make a diving save in the 25th minute, sharply heading Stephanie LopezÆs cross.

Averbuch came close in the 56th minute, firing wide of the upper-right corner on a free kick just outside the box.

Shirley Cruz, one of the top players on Costa RicaÆs full national team, was a catalyst in midfield as the Ticas enjoyed stretches of possession without penetration. U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris handled both shots at her, hopeful kicks from long range from Amara Wilson in the 55th minute and Maciel Chacon in the 60th.

Midfielder Megan Rapinoe suffered a bruised ankle in the 10th minute when Arroyo clipped her while clearing a ball from the Costa Rica box. Rapinoe did not return to the field and was replaced three minutes later by Kron.

Rapinoe is listed as day-to-day.

Forward Kerri Hanks, the tournamentÆs top goalscorer (with 6) after netting hat tricks in the first two U.S. matches, had the night off.

U.S. SUMMARY
Tuesday, June 1, at Montreal

United States 0 Costa Rica 0. Goals: None.

United States — Harris; Logterman, Buehler, Sauerbrunn, Lopez (Krzysik, 83); Lindstrom; Gray (Orand, 70), Averbuch, Rapinoe (Kron, 13); Woznuk, McNeill.

Costa Rica– Arroyo; Salazar, Montes, Mendoza (Wilson, 46); Jimenez, Rodriguez, Chacon, Cruz (Serrut, 79); Esquivel (Bustos, 86), Villalobos, Sanchez.

Yellow card: Costa Rica — Salazar 55.

Referee: Virginia Tovar (Mexico).

Att.: 100.

TuesdayÆs other scores
Trinidad & Tobago 2 (Burton 13, Cordner 46+) Dominican Republic 1 (Santelis 45)
Panama 2 (Rodriguez 36, DeMera 58) Jamaica 0
Canada 3 (Belanger 51, Zurrer 63, 66) Mexico 0

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)