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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Carli Lloyd scored the first of three goals less than seven minutes after the opening kickoff and the United States avenged its Women's World Cup Qualifying loss to Mexico with a 4-0 victory Tuesday night.
The result in CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying set the semifinal pairings - which will determine the region's two berths in the London Games field, pitting the Americans against Costa Rica, and host Canada against Mexico.
Although the United States beat Mexico in June in a friendly, Tuesday's match was seen by many as a rematch of the World Cup qualifying semis in November 2010 in Cancun, when the host Mexicans upset the United States 2-1 to earn a berth to Germany. The loss forced the United States to play in a playoff to earn the last place in the World Cup.
After a 14-0 win over the Dominican Republic and a 13-0 victory over Guatemala, the Americans pressed Mexico from the outset, getting a shot by Lauren Cheney that sailed just over the crossbar 80 seconds after the opening kickoff.
A Lloyd deflection for a corner and an Abby Wambach header high and wide soon followed before Lloyd put the United States ahead.
Lloyd headed down Cheney's corner, Rachel Buehler put a shot off the right post that bounded back to Lloyd, who headed back into the net.
The Americans continued their pressure and barely a minute later doubled the lead. Amy Rodriguez sprinted around the left side of the Mexican defense and stung a low ball through the goal box that Mexican keeper Cecelia Santiago was able to palm away.
But the ball bounded into the path of Heather O'Reilly, who tapped it in from just inside the six.
The Mexicans gave the United States more of a game than either the Dominican Republic or Guatemala, and had a fair amount of possession, but managed only one shot in the first 80 minutes - a 30-meter by Maribel Dominguez that bounced well wide in the 11th.
"I was happy with all four goals and Carli Lloyd, the way she was the end product of the set pieces. So we did well with set pieces," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "After (the U.S. went ahead), we could not find the rhythm in the attack.
"It was a little bit tough for us to change the point of attack and get it going. At halftime I think we stretched out the team a little bit and we got better and better. Of course, that 3-0 goal got us a little bit confidence."
The United States appeared in control throughout and added to its lead in the 57th when Lloyd tallied a second, heading in a Cheney free kick at the back post.
Lloyd completed the scoring in the 86th. Rachel Buehler settled Megan Rapinoe's near post corner, turned and served a low rolling cross along the top of the goal box, where Lloyd volleyed it.
"For us to be in the game, we needed a good beginning and we didn't have it," Mexico coach Leo Cuellar said. "We gave away two early goals and the team was not capable to get settled and to put work the things that we planned for this match.
"We needed to play a perfect game as we did in Cancun to deserve the victory."
The Americans had two other near misses, when Natalie Garciamendez saved Abby Wambach's shot off the line in the 23rd and Lloyd volleyed a low roller off the right post in the 75th.
The United States has never lost to Costa Rica in seven meetings, outscoring the Ticas 34-0.
Canada has won 16 of 18 meetings against Mexico, its only loss coming in 2004 Olympic qualifying, when El Tri won 2-1 to earn a trip to Athens.
