ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Canada completed the semifinal field for the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship, beating Panama 2-1 on Saturday to earn knockout round berths for both itself and Mexico.
Haisha Cantave and Diamond Simpson scored first-half goals for Canada, which will play Mexico for the Group A title on Monday. The United States and host Costa Rica claimed their berths from Group A on Friday and will face off Sunday for seeding. The semifinals will be played Thursday with the championship and third-place matches on March 20.
The result eliminated Panama with its second loss and relegated it to a remaining meaningless group match on Monday against Jamaica, which also lost its second earlier Saturday, 3-0 to Mexico.
The victory could prove costly for Canada, which lost left back Katherine Caverly in the 20th minute to what appeared to be a twisted knee. Kyle Davis also was replaced in the 56th, coming off for Sabrina Hemond and looking to be in pain.
Canada started quickly, creating close-range opportunities for both Yazmin Ongtengco and Nour Ghoneim in the first eight minutes. Ongtengco volleyed a cross from 10 yards from Ghoneim into goalkeeper Anyyuri Montenegro's arms in the third minute, and Ghoneim had her turn five minutes later, pivoting to put a left-footed shot that Montenegro blocked at the edge of the goal box.
The North Americans eventually converted in the ninth minute. Standing in her own half of the center circle, Ghoneim turned and sent a ball behind the Panamanian defense down the left that Cantave reached at the edge of the penalty area. She took one touch with her right foot and sent a easy roller past Montenegro, who had come well off her line.
Simpson doubled the lead in the 37th. Panama's Yerenis de Leon tried to clear a bounding ball just outside the area, but the attempt struck Simpson in the chest, dropped toward the goal and Simpson chased before toeing a ball at the 18. Montenegro was very slow to react, allowing the ball to roll inside her right post.
Panama had little possession and few chances, one of its best when Natalia Mills sent a 30-meter free kick over the bar in the 17th minute.
It finally scored on a blunder by Canadian goalkeeper Sabria D'Angelo in the 88th. Astrid Diaz's corner kick slipped through D'Angelo's hands and dropped in front of Libany Alveo, who headed in from the edge of the goal box.
