[YOUTH] The USA raced out to a 4-0 lead and held on to beat Costa Rica, 4-1, and win the first Concacaf Under-17 Girls Championship Sunday night at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad.

Tani Costa scored twice to lead the Americans, who will be placed into Group C at the 2008 Under-17 Girls World Cup, along with France, Japan and Paraguay.

Canada defeated Mexico, 1-0, to win third place in the tournament and book the third and final Concacaf spot at the world championships, which will be held from Oct. 28-Nov. 16 in New Zealand.

"When we got together as a team some months ago, we basically all agreed that our first goal was to get to the World Cup and our second goal was to win the Concacaf region, this tournament," said U.S. coach Kazbek Tambi. "Now we're going to set some new goals when we get back home to lead into the World Cup."

GAME SUMMARY:
July 27 in Macoya
USA 4 Costa Rica 1. Goals: Costa 1, 7, K.Mewis 32, Verloo 44; Alvarado 72.
USA -- Gaul, Brooks, Colohan (Harris, 46), Dunn, Roberts, Bennett, Klei, K.Mewis (S.Mewis, 36), Tymrak, Costa, Verloo.
Costa Rica -- Tapia, Barquero, Cruz, Guillen (Rodriguez Vazquez, 11), Quiros, Alvarado, Campos, Rodriguez (Spence, 59), Sanchez, Guzman (Mata, 46), Rodriguez Cedeno.
Referee: Cecibel Ortega (El Salvador).
Att.: 800.