Signals
7.5.2011  
 
    
 
 Toronto FC reaches Champions League
 U.S. advances to quarterfinals
 USVI records first-ever World Cup qualifying victory; Bahamas defeats Turks and Caicos
 

Toronto FC reaches Champions League

Toronto FC rallied with two second-half goals to beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Saturday and capture a third straight Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The victory made the host Reds the last team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, completing the 24-team field with a 3-2 aggregate win.

The match was a replay of the Canadian Championship's second leg that was abandoned on May 25 due to lightning and rain. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Vancouver was ahead 1-0 in the 60th minute of the second leg when play was stopped.

Toronto will meet Nicaragua's Real Estelí in a Champions League Preliminary Round series, beggining July 27 at BMO Field and then travelling to Central America for the second encounter August 2.






Costa Rica, Mexico fall in Copa America debuts

Costa Rica and Mexico, playing with enhanced under-22 sides, both lost their Copa America openers in Argentina. Reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute with the expulsion of Randal Brenes, Costa Rica fell to Colombia 1-0 on Saturday.

Coached by Ricardo Lavolpe, the Ticos will look to rebound Thursday against Bolivia in Jujuy. On

Monday, a Fernando Tena-managed Mexico led in the 41st minute on a goal by Nestor Araujo, but allowed strikes Esteban Paredes and Alvaro Vidal six minutes apart midway through the second half to lose 2-1 to Chile. Mexico will face Peru on Friday.






U.S. advances to quarterfinals

The United States will carry CONCACAF's flag into the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup, beating Colombia 3-0 on Saturday to assure passage into the knockout round of the quadrennial championship.

Heather O'Reilly gave the Americans the lead with her 30th career goal, halftime substitute Megan Rapinoe doubled the advantage in the 50th minute, and Carli Lloyd closed out the scoring seven minutes later.

The United States needs only a draw against Sweden on Wednesday in Wolfsburg to clinch first-place in Group C and avoid a quarterfinal match against the Group D winner, likely Brazil.

Mexico tied New Zealand 2-2 on Tuesday and failed to reach the second round, finishing with two points in Group B. The two points were Mexico's first points in a senior women's World Cup.

Canada lost 1-0 to Nigeria on Tuesday to close out its participation in the tournament with zero points.






USVI records first-ever World Cup qualifying victory; Bahamas defeats Turks and Caicos

The U.S. Virgin Islands won for the first time in World Cup qualifying, claiming a 2-0 victory over the British Virgin Islands on Sunday in the first leg of their preliminary round series.

Bahamas also won, using a pair of goals by Nesly Jean, a penalty by Cameron Hepple and a finale by Jackner Louis in injury time to earn a 4-0 victory at Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday.

In the USVI capital of Charlotte Amelie on the island of St. Thomas, Alderman Lesmond put the host ahead in the sixth minute and Reid Klopp added the insurance seven minutes into the second half.

The British Virgin Islands will host the second leg of its series on Sunday in Tortola, while Bahamas will take a substantial aggregate lead for its home leg Saturday in Nassau.

On Friday, Aguilla will host the first leg of its series against the Dominican Republic, and likewise Aruba will be home against St. Lucia.






Haiti qualifies for CONCACAF finals

Roselord Borgella scored three goals and Wisline Dolce and Roseleine Joseph had a pair each to lead Haiti over Aruba 8-0 on Sunday, earning it a spot in the finals CONCACAF's Olympic women's qualifying tournament.

Both Haiti and Cuba, which drew 1-1 on in their head-to-head encounter on Friday, finished atop Group A with seven points each, but Haiti advanced with a plus-12 goal difference in its three games.

Haiti will be joined by the Group B winner and best runner-up from the two groups at the CONCACAF finals in Vancouver January 19-29.

Two teams will qualify from CONCACAF for next year's Olympic Games in London.