GUATEMALA CITY - Chelsea Stewart finally converted one of Canada's numerous chances in the 59th minute and put the defending champion on the brink of the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Cuba in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship on Friday.

It was Canada's second straight victory and put it atop Group A with six points, three better than Costa Rica and Guatemala. Canada needs only a draw on Sunday against Guatemala to advance.

It was Cuba's second loss in as many games, vitrually ending its chances of advancing.

Three teams will qualify for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Germany in July.

Goalkeeper and captain Lucylena Martinez made numerous saves to frustrate Canada, which dominated possession but was repeatedly denied by the very active netminder.

Canada finally went ahead when Stewart capitalized on defensive flub by Yamara Lopez. Lopez tried to clear a long ball into the area but only managed to get a weak touch. It dropped it into the path of Stewart, who volleyed the ball with her left foot from just outside the area and sent it curling past Martinez inside the right post.

Jenna Richardson added the insurance in the 87th, heading a looping long cross from midfield by Laura Chenard off Martinez's shoulder. The ball skipped off the left post before settling in the goal.

Except for one brief period in each half, Canada dominated, repeatedly testing the Cuban defense and forcing Martinez to block shots, punch away or grab crosses or come off her line to diffuse danger.

It started as early as the 15th minute when she had to race to the top of her penalty area to make a sliding block of a shot by Adriana Leon, and again in the 27th when she was forced to a leaping grab of Leon's header after a misplayed ball by her defense.

She again raced off her line to thwart Leon in the 38th and pushed a header by Chloe Malette around the right post in the 51st.

After the goal, Martinez denied Stewart in the 61st, grabbing a header, and then blocked a shot by Christabel Oduro in the 63rd and punched away a rebound seconds later.

Cuba's best chances came in a five-minute period midway through the first half and a lone foray in the 70th.

Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc tipped Rachel Pelaez's free kick over the bar in the 20th minute and Yezenia Gallardo, who had Cuba's lone goal against Guatemala in Wednesday's 2-1 loss, was able to get free in the box in the 25th to turn, but shot wide right.

Yoana Calderon, likewise, was able to get a turning shot in the 70th, but also shot wide.

Martinez kept the score from being lopsided, continuing her stellar performance to the end, pushing a free kick by Stewart over the bar in the 81st.