Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Mexico clinches Olympic berth; Canada to face U.S. in playoff decider

491753766

during 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on October 7, 2015 in Commerce City, Colorado. Mexico defeated Honduras 2-1.

Doug Pensinger

In terms of rivalry bravado, Mexico has the first win of the night ahead of Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup final against the United States men’s national team.

Erick “Cubo” Torres scored a header goal in the sixth minute, and Hirving Lozano added a second-half goal as Mexico eased comfortably past Canada to ensure a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio with a 2-0 win in Utah.

The U.S. fell to Honduras in the earlier semifinal.

[ MATCH RECAP: U.S. men’s Olympic hopes take terrific blow vs. Honduras ]

The Canadians will now need to beat the United States in the third-place game on Tuesday for the right to play CONMEBOL’s Colombia for the right to go to the Olympics.

Torres rose to power home a header at the far post to put an early dent in Canada’s hopes, while Lozano absolutely labeled a letter to the upper left corner with his 57th minute goal from the right side of the 18.

Mexico out shot Canada 19-6, and completed nearly 300 more passes in the win.

Follow @NicholasMendola