Late goal sinks Canada

Mexicans through to U-20 World Cup, Canadians will get another shot

Alice Soto scored in the 92nd minute, sending Mexico to next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 2-1 comeback win over Canada in semifinal action Friday at the CONCACAF women’s under-20 championship.

The goal came on a counterattack with Hailey Gordon’s cross finding Soto at the top of the penalty box. The Mexican forward pivoted and fired a low shot past Canadian ’keeper Faith Fenwick.

The finalists and third-place side at the eight-team tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the FIFA world championship.

The defending champion United States beat Costa Rica 2-1 in the late semifinal. Canada will have to beat Costa Rica in Sunday’s third-place game to make the World Cup.

Substitute Kayla Briggs put Canada ahead in the 65th minute only to see Mailin Orozco tie it up 12 minutes later, benefiting from a fortuitous bounce off a Canadian defender.

After an even first 45 minutes, the unbeaten Mexicans looked to be taking control in the second half. But Canada scored against the run of play after Mexican goalkeeper Itzel Velasco came out of her penalty box to clear a ball before Canadian Rosa Maalouf got to it. Velasco squibbed her clearance attempt and the ball went straight to Briggs, who calmly fired it into the empty goal.

Mexico pulled even in the 77th minute when Orozco’s shot changed direction after deflected off Canadian defender Zoe Markesini.

The Canadians lost 1-0 to Mexico in last year’s semifinals at the same venue before blanking Puerto Rico 2-0 to finish third.

Friday’s game saw video review come into play three times, with each side having a goal negated and Canada escaping a possible penalty. After falling behind in stoppage time, Canada had another goal nullified for an obvious offside.