Canada to play Puerto Rico in CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship for World Cup berth

Melina Rebimbas scored twice Friday to move the Americans into the final of the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship with a 3-0 win over Canada, which now faces a do-or-die third-place match with a berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on the line.

The defending champion Americans will meet Mexico in Sunday's championship game with both finalists booking their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India in October. The Mexicans blanked Puerto Rico 5-0 in the earlier semifinal at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez.

Canada will have to get past Puerto Rico in the third-place match Sunday to get to the World Cup.

Canada came out with an early aggressive press, but the Americans adjusted quickly and started mounting a relentless attack, smoothly moving the ball around the pitch and pinning the Canadians in their own end.

The pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Rebimbas lashed a shot past goalkeeper Coralie Lallier from just outside the six-yard box.

The Americans continued to probe the Canadian defence but were unable to add to their lead in the first half although midfielder Charlotte Kohler came close in the 42nd minute when her curling cross bounced off the Canadian crossbar.

The Canadians had so many players back in defence that there were few outlet options when they cleared the ball, which would allow the U.S. to launch another attack.

The Americans outshot Canada 10-2 (7-2 in shots on target) in the first 45 minutes with 80 per cent possession.

Lallier made a fine diving save in the 47th minute to deny Gamero's hard shot as the Americans kept coming forward to open the second half.

Rebimbas made it 2-0 in the 58th minute with a virtual repeat of her first-half strike, upping her tournament goals total to seven. Gamero