USA clinches berth in semifinals

• by Soccer America , Oct 31, 2010

[WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe each had two goals in the final 25 minutes of the first half as the USA cruised to a 9-0 win over Guatemala in Cancun, Mexico, and clinched a berth in the semifinals of the Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.

The match marked the first ever meeting between the USA and Guatemala in women’s soccer and the Central Americans were simply outmatched in size, strength and speed.

Costa Rica joined the United States in clinching a berth in the semifinals when the Ticas beat Haiti, 3-0.

The semifinal field was completed Sunday night when FC Gold Pride's Christine Sinclair scored four goals and assisted on another to lead Canada to a 8-0 victory over Guyana and Mexico beat Trinidad & Tobago, 2-0.

Oct. 30 in Cancun
USA 9 Guatemala 0. Goals: Rodriguez 21, 45+, 88; Rapinoe 22, 40, Wambach 29, 41, Morgan 49, Lloyd (pen.) 55.
USA -- Barnhart, Mitts, LePeilbet (Sauerbrunn, 56), Rampone, Cox, O’Reilly, Boxx (Lindsey, 46), Lloyd, Rapinoe, Rodriguez, Wambach (Morgan, 39)
Guatemala -- Spross, Rivera, Ramos, Barrios, De Leon, Monterroso, Sosa (Vega, 80), Andrade (Lopez, 46), Pineda, Mendez,  Suriano (Martinez, 68)
Referee: Shane De Silva (Trinidad & Tobago).
Att.: 1,050.

Results:
Group A
USA 5 Haiti 0
Costa Rica 1 Guatemala 0
USA 9 Guatemala 0
Costa Rica 3 Haiti 0

Group B
Canada 1 Trinidad & Tobago 0
Mexico 7 Guyana 2
Canada 8 Guyana 0
Mexico 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0

USA-Guatemala Highlights: