BRADENTON, Florida – The United States claimed first place in Group A at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship thanks to a 1-0 win over Canada on Friday.
Reilyn Turner struck in the second half to deliver the three points to the U.S., who completes the group stage with a 3W-0D-0L record, while Canada finishes in second place with a 2-0-1 mark.
The U.S. will face Haiti in Sunday’s semifinals, while Canada will meet Mexico.
The U.S. was the more active in attack of the two sides to start, but it found a roadblock in Canada GK Anna Karpenko.
The Canadian shot-stopper delivered a sensational first half performance, denying the U.S. on four different scoring occasions, including a one-on-one stop on Kate Wiesner in the 44’.
Both teams were also denied by the crossbar in the first half.
A right-footed rocket from Sunshine Fontes rang off the crossbar in the 24’, while Canada’s Serita Thurton saw a shot from distance bounce off the woodwork in the 41.
The deadlock would continue into the second half until substitute Turner powered the U.S. to a 1-0 lead with a hard-hit header off a Wiesner corner kick in the 65’.
Canada would look to strike back with an equalizer, but the U.S. defense proved too strong a force and closed things out to clinch top spot in the group.
