Canada's women's youth team has booked its ticket to Chile 2008. The young Canucks won 2:1 over Mexico today at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship semi-final, securing a spot in the 28 June final against the United States and winning a spot at this year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008. It will be Canada's fourth-straight entry to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.



"Our players are so excited about this next opportunity," says coach Bob Birarda. "The United States has always been a yardstick for teams at this level. We will do everything to find the energy to perform on Saturday."



Canada's Jonelle Filigno scored the winning goal midway through the second half, breaking a 1-1 deadlock that lasted just six minutes at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. The United States, meanwhile, won 4:0 over Costa Rica to book its own ticket to Chile 2008. Costa Rica and hosts Mexico will fight for the last-remaining CONCACAF spot in the match for third place on 28 June.



This year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup runs 19 November to 7 December in Chile. Since the tournament's inception in 2002 (then known as the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship), Canada has participated in every FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Canada won a silver medal at the inaugural Canada 2002 event.



Canada's players have also performed very well at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. At Canada 2002, Christine Sinclair had her coming out party by scoring eight goals in six matches, including five in a 6:2 win over England on 25 August 2002. Sinclair won the adidas Golden Ball (top player) and adidas Golden Boot (top scorer). Two years later at Thailand 2004, Brittany Timko won the adidas Golden Boot after scoring seven goals in four games.



Canada's women's U-20 team has a perfect 5-0-0 record in international competition this year, including four-straight wins at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship. Two years ago in the CONCACAF final in Mexico, Canada lost 2:3 to the United States. The United States' Lauren Cheney scored the winner in the 82nd minute. Two years earlier in the 2004 CONCACAF final in Canada, Canada finished first after a 2:1 extra-time victory over the United States. Canada's Josée Belanger scored the winner in the 118th minute.



Canada's women's U-20 team, whose title sponsor is Winners, features players born 1988 or later. Four players in the current lineup - Jonelle Filigno, Lexi Marton, Jodi-Ann Robinson and Sophie Schmidt - were actually in Mexico 11 weeks earlier for the 2008 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament. The quartet helped the full national team earn its first-ever berth to the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.