Canada advances to soccer qualifier semifinal with a 5 - 0 victory over Guatemala. USA is next.

CARSON, Calif. -- Canada played one match but received two victories on Sunday en route to advancing to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
 
Will Johnson and Tosaint Ricketts scored two goals apiece and Kyle Hall also tallied to propel Canada to a 5-0 victory over Guatemala.
 
The Canadians (1-1-1) advanced in the tournament after Mexico defeated Haiti, 5-1, in the late Group B match.
 
Despite having the same record as Mexico, Canada gained a berth in the semifinal based on goal differential. The Canadians outscored their opponents, 7-3, in their first-round matches, while Mexico had a 7-4 advantage.
 
Canada will face the United States (2-0-1) on Thursday in Nashville, Tenn. Guatemala (2-1-0), which had clinched a berth in the semifinals prior to Sunday's game, will face Honduras (2-1-0).
 
The semifinal winners will earn berths to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

CARSON, Calif. -- An offensive outburst has erased Canada's disappointing outing against Haiti and kept its Beijing dreams alive.

 
Will Johnson and Tosaint Ricketts each scored twice at the Home Depot Center to put Canada into the semi-finals of Olympic qualifying for men's soccer with a 5-0 victory over Guatemala in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament yesterday.

 
Kyle Hall also scored and goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar made three saves for his first shutout with the under-23 team.

 
Canada advanced to the semi-finals because of a superior goal differential over Mexico. Canada and Mexico finished Group B play with four points each after Mexico beat Haiti 5-1 in the late game, but Canada had a goal differential of plus-4 to Mexico's plus-3.

 
As the group's second-place team, Canada will play the United States on March 20 in Nashville, Tenn. A victory would give Canada one of two Olympic berths reserved for North America in men's soccer -- and Canada's first since 1984.

 
"The players were unbelievable," said Canadian coach Nick Dasovic, who expressed concerns about his team's fitness after Friday night's 2-1 loss to Haiti.

 
"The energy was always a worry for me," Dasovic said. "But the one thing we have in this group is the pride and passion of playing for your country, there's no doubt about it.

 
"Guys who got off planes were running for three full games on fumes, I'm telling you. They were extraordinary."

 
Johnson put Canada ahead in the 45th minute with the team's first shot on goal, a 25-yard free kick that bounced inside the right post.

 
Dasovic called that goal a turning point.

 
"That goal came at a very important time," he said. "It just changed the tempo of the game."

 
Tyler Hemming set up Johnson's third goal of the tournament in the 46th minute. After taking Hemming's through ball, Johnson dribbled down the right end line, eluded defender Rafael Morales and struck a one-yard shot behind goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.