Canadian women's soccer team off to Olympics
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 | 11:40 PM ET
CBC Sports
The Canadian women's soccer team qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday night by defeating Mexico 1-0 in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinals in Juarez, Mexico.
Striker Melissa Tancredi scored in her third straight game to help Canada qualify for the Olympics for the first time. Tancredi, a native of Hamilton, scored goals in Canada's round-robin wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.
"I'm very happy for her and very happy with her performance in this tournament," said Canadian coach Even Pellerud.
"She has suffered from a lot of injuries and her fitness has always been hurt by that, but she has really become a very smart power striker and she's getting stronger and fitter and smarter."
Pellerud has heaped praise on his defence and goalkeeper, who recorded her third shutout of the tournament Wednesday.
"The whole back four was excellent, and Erin was very, very focused in net," Pellerud said. "She played easily her best game in this tournament today. That was a good day to peak."
Wednesday's contest was a re-match of the 2004 Olympic qualification semifinal, which saw Mexico post a 2-1 win to deny Canada a spot at the Athens Games.
"I'm not much of a revenge guy," Pellerud said. "I think the biggest challenge was to prove who was the best team. I think we've played 12 or 13 games against Mexico and never lost except that one game four years ago."
In Wednesday's other semifinal, the U.S. defeated Costa Rica 3-0 to stamp its passport for Beijing.
Natasha Kai scored twice and Heather O'Reilly once for the United States, which will face the Canada in the tournament final Saturday night.
Canada will face the United States in Saturday's final.
