Saturday 08 February 2020, 02:00

Canada and USA book Concacaf's tickets to Tokyo 2020

  • Two-time bronze medallists Canada qualify for Tokyo 2020

  • Four-time gold medallists USA join them

  • The pair complete Concacaf's line-up at the Women's Olympic Football Tournament

Canada edged Costa Rica 1-0 in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship on Friday to advance to the regional final and simultaneously qualify for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020.

Costa Rica (37th), ranked 29 places below Canada (8th), made it tough for Kenneth Heiner-Moller's charges on the evening, however, young star forward Jordyn Huitema ultimately found the breakthrough goal, finishing Deanne Rose's low cross from close range in the 72nd minute.

Huitema leads the tournament's goalscoring with an impressive seven goals scored in four matches. Canada are two-time bronze medallists (London 2012, Rio 2016) in Women's Olympic Football Tournament history.

Women's World Cup champions are Tokyo bound

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ winners USA breezed past Mexico in the second semi-final of the evening, defeating La Tri 4-0 thanks to goals from France 2019 breakout stars Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis (2) and Christen Press.

Lavelle's opening goal in the fifth minute was somewhat reminiscent of her strike that sealed the USWNT's victory over the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup Final - her sharply-hit, left-footed strike found the bottom right corner after she ran on to a neat flicked assist from Megan Rapinoe.

Mewis doubled the Stars and Stripes' lead nine minutes later. In a set-piece routine most likely drawn up by head coach Vlatko Andonovski on the training ground, Rapinoe drove her corner kick low and to the near post only for Julie Ertz to let the cross by, drawing two defenders in and leaving Mewis open in the middle to score from close range.

Mewis scored her second of the evening midway through the second half, striking a free-kick from right outside of the penalty area with pace and into the bottom corner, leaving Mexico goalkeeper Emily Alvarado helpless. Substitute Press made it four for USA with a deft chipped goal.

USA are four-time gold medallists in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament and will be looking to return to the podium in Tokyo after having their worst ever showing at Rio 2016 last time around when they finished in fifth place.

USA and Canada will contest the Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship final on Sunday to determine the region's champions.