Improved offence encouraging sign for Canada's soccer women, but biggest test still looms

Although the Canadian women's team entered this month's CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico as one of the favourites, questions still lingered about the potency of its attack. 

Taking nothing away from Canada's showing at last summer's Olympics, its gold-medal run was achieved on the back of its defensive strength. The Reds scored multiple goals only once in six games in Tokyo, and all four of their victories were either by one goal or secured via penalty shootouts. 

A 0-0 draw against South Korea in an international friendly last month in Toronto, Canada's only tune-up match for this CONCACAF competition, raised more concerns as Christine Sinclair watched the entire game from the bench. 

But Canada found its scoring touch in Mexico, bagging 12 goals and posting four shutout wins, including a 3-0 victory over Jamaica in Thursday's semifinal at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey. 

In doing so, Canada advanced to next Monday's final against the United States in which the winner automatically qualifies for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The second- and third-place nations at this competition could still qualify for the Olympics, but they would have to face each other in a playoff in September 2023 to determine who'll go to Paris. 

WATCH | Fleming's early goal lifts Canada over Jamaica:

What's been especially encouraging about Canada's progression to the final hasn't been that it has scored so many goals, but who has scored. Eight different Canadian players have found the back of the net. It's not Sinclair who has carried the offensive load, although the iconic captain does have a goal to her credit. Rather, the Canadians have benefited from balanced scoring, with Jessie Fleming and Julia Grosso tied