Canada qualifies for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, rallying against Costa Rica

Substitute Annabelle Chukwu scored twice in extra time Sunday to send Canada to next year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup with a 5-3 comeback win over Costa Rica in the third-place match at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship.

Kayla Briggs dispossessed a Costa Rican defender and Ella Ottey sent in a perfect cross for an unmarked Chukwu to knock home in the 101st minute in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Chukwu had come off the bench to open the second half and had a string of scoring opportunities, hitting the post with one of them before delivering the go-ahead goal.

The 16-year-old from Ottawa added an insurance goal in the 121st minute, curling in a shot past the outstretched Genesis Perez.

The defending champion United States faced Mexico in the championship game later Sunday, with both having already booked their ticket to the World Cup.

The two finalists and third-place side at the eight-team CONCACAF tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Down 3-2, Canada tied it up in the 74th minute with a lunging Olivia Smith poking in a low cross from Briggs before crashing into the goalpost. It was Smith's fourth goal of the tournament.

Tied 2-2 in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Costa Rica's Josselyn Briceno scored from a spectacular free kick taken from more than 40 yards out. Canadian 'keeper Faith Fenwick, who stands five foot seven, got her hands to the dipping moon shot but only managed to deflect the ball into the roof of the goal.

The Canadians had chances late in the second half to pull ahead but could not convert. And there were more scoring opportunities in extra time, with substitute Jaime Perrault's header flashing wide.

Briceno