Panama City, Friday 9 March 2012.– Christabel Oduro helped set up three goals and scored two of her own to lead Canada a 6-0 victory over Panama in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship on Friday and earn it a fifth trip to the Under-20 Women's World Cup.
The victory sends the Canadians - beaten in the knockout round two years and denied a World Cup berth - to Sunday's final against the United States. The Americans beat Mexico 4-0 in the first semifinal, and will play Canada in the title game for the fourth time.
Panama, which advanced to the semifinals for the first time in four appearances at the CONCACAF finals, will have another chance to qualify for the U-20 Women's World Cup when it faces Mexico in the third-place game immediately before the final.
Oduro had hands in goals by Nkkem Ezurike, Jenna Richardson and Jaclyn Sawicki, besides her own, and Amelia Pietrangelo added another for Canada, which like the United States has not allowed a goal in four games in the tournament.
Canada took the initiative early with Shelina Zadorsky putting a free kick from 30 meters off the crossbar.
Panama was limited to a handful of opportunities and no shots on goal while Canada was dominant in possession, but also likewise struggled to create dangerous chances in the first half.
Oduro sprinted free on the left and sent a cross into the area that Panamanian keeper Dayton Wetherby came off her line to knock away with a diving punch. The ball, however, only went to the top of the area where Jaclyn Sawicki mis-hit it, sending a dribbling shot that Ezurike volleyed over the Wetherby from the edge of the six.
However, the second half was all Canada.
Richardson scored her third of the tournament a little over two minutes into the second half. Oduro again sped free on the left, then played the ball into space into the area and Richardson ran on to volley unchallenged near the penalty spot.
Richardson returned the favor two minutes later, sending a short ball to Oduro, who beat two defenders, sprinted into the area and struck a fierce right-footed drive inside the far post.
Pietrangelo hiked the lead to 4-0 in the 69th, settling an attempted clearance by Panamanian defender Leyda Camacho and volleying from the arc past Wetherby.
Oduro then tallied her second in the 84th, knocking in a loose ball from the middle of the area after several shots and blocks.
Sawicki completed the scoring in the 88th. Pietrangelo crossed from the left to Oduro, who volleyed in back in front for Sawicki, who scored easily.
Panama finished the match with only 10 players after Cuban referee Annia Navarrete ejected Marta Cox, who kicked Pietrangelo while on the ground when the two collided and fell.
The victory was the most lopsided win for Canada in the tournament, eclipsing the 5-0 win over Haiti in its opener. It was the second straight 6-0 loss for Panama, which was beaten by the United States in their Group B finale on Tuesday.
*With information from the CONCACAF
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