U.S. women’s soccer bound for Tokyo

Samantha Mewis scored twice and the U.S. women’s team secured a spot in the Tokyo Olympics with a 4-0 semifinal victory Friday night over Mexico in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament in Carson, Calif.

Rose Lavelle and Christen Press also scored for the U.S., which extended its unbeaten streak to 27 games.

The U.S. will face Canada in the tournament’s title game Sunday. Canada earned the region’s other Olympic berth with a 1-0 victory over surprisingly resilient Costa Rica 1-0 in the earlier match Friday.

The top-ranked U.S. team is coming off a victory in the World Cup last summer in France. It was the team’s fourth title in soccer’s premier tournament.

The U.S. has made the field for every Olympics since soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996, and has won the gold medal four times. But the Americans were eliminated by Sweden in the quarterfinals four years ago in Brazil for the team’s earliest exit in the tournament.

■ Giampaolo Pazzini’s late penalty gave host Hellas Verona a surprise 2-1 win over Serie A leader and eight-time defending champ Juventus on Saturday despite Cristiano Ronaldo setting another record. Ronaldo became the first Juventus player to score in 10 successive matches. Juventus holds a three-point advantage over secondplace Inter Milan, which can go level with the leader if it wins the derby against AC Milan on Sunday.

Baseball: The Giants signed free-agent OF Hunter Pence to a one-year, $3 million contract. Pence, 36, a four-time All-Star, spent last season with the Rangers after playing the previous seven seasons with the Giants.

Golf: Ayean Cho of South Korea shot a third-round 2-under 70 to take a onestroke lead over Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden (74) at the LPGA’s Vic Open in Barwon Heads, Australia. Cho reached 12-under 205. In the European Tour men’s event, also at 13th Beach Golf Links, Min Woo Lee eagled the 18th hole to shoot a 4-under 68 and take a three-stroke lead over fellow Aussies Marcus Fraser (69) and fellow Australian Travis Smyth (72). Lee reached 15-under 201.