Music: {allcanada} CANADA BEATS PANAMA TO REACH CONCACAF U17 FINAL

Friday, February 25, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA BEATS PANAMA TO REACH CONCACAF U17 FINAL

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica - Maxime Crepeau posted his fourth straight shutout Friday as Canada survived an off day to advance to its first-ever final at the CONCACAF U-17 soccer championship with a 1-0 victory over Panama.

Crepeau, a product of the Montreal Impact Academy from Candiac, Que., saved the win in the 88th minute when he made a close-range save off Roberto Chen after a goalmouth scramble.

Defender Luca Gasparotto scored the lone goal in the eighth minute off a corner to send Canada to Sunday's final against the U.S. after the Americans defeated host Jamaica 2-0 in the other semifinal.

"(The game) was a bit different for us," Canada coach Sean Fleming said afterwards. "We had less possession of the ball than we've been used to but (Barbados) is good technically and have good movement."

"Today we didn't have much as much possession of the ball as we need (in the final)."

Both Canada and Barbados had already qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Championships by winning their quarter-final matches. But bragging rights and an improved seeding at the June 18-July 10 world championship in Mexico were on the line.

Fleming says it hasn't been difficult to focus his players on the tournament, despite already qualifying for Mexico.

"We let them enjoy (the quarter-final win) for one night," Fleming said. "But on Thursday was we told them, 'That was yesterday but now we're focusing in on tomorrow.' "

The support from Canadian tourists on holiday in Jamaica has also given the team a lift, Fleming added.

"We got a standing ovation at our resort when we came back after the game," Fleming said. "It was very special for the boys."

Upstart Panama, which has never previously reached the CONCACAF championship before, pushed Canada in the second half when it dominated possession and kept the Canadians on their heels.

Canada (3-0-1) has outscored its opposition 11-0 at the tournament.

Panama (1-2-1) has scored just one goal and given up two in its qualifying campaign. It advanced to the semifinals by upsetting Costa Rica 1-0.

Alfredo Stephens, who was responsible for Panama's lone goal of the competition, was not in the lineup Friday after picking up two yellow cards.

Canada opened the scoring early in the first half off a corner when Gasparotto rose at the back post to head the ball home.

Striker Sadi Jalil had a chance to add to the lead in the 29th minute when a ball from Keven Aleman found its way to him in the box but he saw his shot deflected wide.

Chen came close to equalizing for Panama in the 55th minute when he hammered a long-range shot off the left post.

Omar Browne slammed a free kick off the other post in the 70th minute with Chen blasting the rebound high and wide.

Canada had failed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup since the 1995 tournament in Ecuador. Canada also took part in the 1989 (Scotland) and 1993 (Japan) world under-17 championships and hosted the event in 1987.

Canada has lost all 12 of its games at the world tournament and been outscored 42-3.