Canada has won its semi-final match at the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship, putting six goals past the host Panama. The 6:0 victory on Friday 9 March qualified Canada for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012. Canada will now prepare for the Sunday championship final against Friday's other semi-final winner, USA.

Player of the match Christabel Oduro scored two goals while Nkem Ezurike, Jenna Richardson, Amelia Pietrangelo and Jaclyn Sawicki all scored a goal each. Sabrina D'Angelo posted a clean sheet for the fourth consecutive match at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Ciudad de Panama.

In just the second minute of play, Canada had an excellent chance with a free kick from outside the box. Captain Shelina Zadorsky fired the free kick and smacked the crossbar - the ball hit dead on and stayed out.

From there, the Panama XI showed some tenacity in their play, but Canada ultimately held the greater possession in search of that first goal. Another dangerous free kick was awarded in the 23rd minute down the right side near the touch line, but Canada's kick sailed over everyone.

Finally three minutes later, Canada scored the first goal after goalkeeper Dayton Wetherby knocked a Christabel Oduro cross into the direction of two Canadians. Jaclyn Sawicki knocked the ball back towards the net and Ezurike got the final touch to direct the ball on goal.

Canada thought it was up 2-0 late in the first half, but a foul against Canada negated a potential call against Panama. With a corner kick from the right side, the ball took a couple of bounces before Vanessa Legault-Cordisco chested the ball from just inches away from goal. In a moment of instinct, Panama midfielder Yaniska Garcia raised her arms and swiped the ball to safety - an otherwise illegal play had the referee not decided the Canadian foul came first.

In the second half, Canada came out with renewed focus as it scored two goals in the first five minutes after the break. In the 47th minute, an Oduro run and pass from the left side sent Richardson en route to scoring Canada's second goal of the game. Three minutes later, Oduro took a pass, outmuscled the Panamanian defender and fired a low shot to the opposite corner for the 3-0 Canadian lead.

Then in the 68th minute, Canada made it 4-0 shortly after a free kick. Panama managed to clear the ball over the half line, but Canadian defender Rachel Melhado put it right back into the Panama box. Panama's Yerenis De Leon headed the ball back, but it fell to the feet of Pietrangelo who took two steps and fired it in on goal for her second of the match.

In the 84th minute, Canada made it 5-0 with Oduro's second goal of the game. From a Canadian corner kick, the bouncing ball dropped to Oduro who quickly switched her shooting lane and fired it direct on the goalkeeper Dayton Wetherby. Wetherby made the save and Panama tried to clear, but Sawicki came in to push the ball forward to Oduro who fired it in.

Four minutes later, Canada scored its sixth goal on a beautiful play that led to the Sawicki goal. Pietrangelo took the ball down the left side, crossed it over to the opposite post for Oduro who then put it back in the middle for Sawicki to tap in.

Canada's starting XI featured Sabrina D'Angelo in goal, Vanessa Legault-Cordisco at right back, Shelina Zadorsky and Rachel Melhado at centre back, Kylie Davis at left back, and Jaclyn Sawicki, Constance De Chantal-Dumont, Danica Wu, Christabel Oduro, Jenna Richardson and Nkem Ezurike from the midfield up to the attack.

In the second half, coach Andrew Olivieri's three substitutions were De Chantal-Dumont off for Nicole Setterlund (61'), Ezurike off for Amelia Pietrangelo (67'), and Richardson off for Nicole Hill (77').

Panama's starting XI featured Dayton Wetherby in goal, Onelys Alvarado at right back, Natalia Mills and Yerenis De Leon at centre back, Astrid Diaz at left back, Leslie Fareaux, Yaniska Garcia, Yvamara Rodriguez, and Yessenia Zorrilla in the midfield, and Angela Evans and Marta Cox up front.

In the second half, coach Luis Tejada's substitutions were Rodriguez off for Karla Riley (46'), Zorrilla off for Mayra Jordan (51'). In the match, Diaz and Garcia were both shown yellow cards while Cox was ejected after being shown a red card.