Football
2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying , Final
USA 
3
FT
 CAN
0
Reuters 4y

United States beats Canada to win CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament

Second-half goals by Lynn Williams, Lindsey Horan and Megan Rapinoe helped the U.S. women's national team win the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics by defeating Canada 3-0 in the final in Carson, California, on Sunday.

Williams' 60th-minute goal put the U.S. ahead and marked the first score allowed by the Canadians in the five-game tourney. Horan extended the lead in the 71st and Williams set up Rapinoe in the 87th.

Alyssa Naeher made three saves as the U.S. outscored the opposition 24-0.

Each team had already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics this summer through their semifinal wins on Friday -- the U.S. 4-0 over Mexico and Canada a 1-0 victory against Costa Rica.

The Americans, who are 25-0-3 in their past 28 games, have never lost a regional Olympic qualifier. The U.S. has participated in six Olympics, winning four gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and a silver in 2000 but were eliminated in the 2016 semifinals by Sweden.

Canada was a bronze medalist in 2012 and 2016.

Each team had good looks in the first half. Christen Press went for her sixth tournament goal but a shot from distance hit the crossbar in the 33rd minute and soon after she missed an open net from 30 yards.

Canada's Christine Sinclair, who had three qualifier goals and is the all-time leader in international goals with 186, got behind the U.S. defense and forced a save by Naeher in the 39th minute.

The breakthrough came off a turnover in the box and Williams quickly fired her ninth international goal and third in the qualifier.

Horan scored her sixth goal in the tourney off a strong build-up. Samantha Mewis sent a cross into the box where Williams knocked the ball down to Horan for the goal.

Rapinoe got her 51st goal all-time by finishing a through ball from Williams, who had four assists in the qualifiers.

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