United States keep Olympic hopes alive; Mexico win tournament
SANDY, Utah --
Marc Pelosi and Jordan Kiesewetter scored second-half goals and the United States beat Canada 2-0 on Tuesday to stay alive in CONCACAF qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
With the victory in the third-place game, the U.S. under-23 team advanced to a playoff match against Colombia for a spot in Rio.
Pelosi scored in the 69th minute, blasting a shot from top of the 18-yard box after a scramble off a corner kick. Kiesewtter made it 2-0 in the 84th when he curled a penalty kick past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Canada played with only 10 players the entire second half after midfielder Giuliano Frano received a second yellow card before halftime. Frano was issued yellow cards in the 32nd and 44th minutes.
The U.S. created plenty of scoring chances in the first half, outshooting Canada 13-2. Three of those shots were on goal.
Victor Guzman scored in the second half and Mexico beat Honduras 2-0 on Tuesday night in the final of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
The teams already clinched spots in the 2016 Rio Olympics with victories in the semifinals Saturday. Mexico is the defending Olympic champion.
Mexico also got an own goal from Honduras midfielder Bryan Acosta in the 42nd minute. Mexican defender Rodolfo Pizzaro set the play in motion when he sent a bicycle kick into forward Erick Torres in front of the goalmouth. Torres outjumped Acosta for the ball and headed it backward, but his shot glanced off of Acosta's right shoulder and the ball bounced into the net.
Guzman scored in the 68th minute. He settled a cross from defender Erick Aguirre and blasted a left-footer from outside the top of the 18-yard box, straight down the middle and into the back of the net.
