First place on the line in Canada-Brazil match

Canada will face Brazil for top spot in Group B at the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 Women’s Football Tournament. The two sides will meet Saturday 22 October at 20.00 local (21.00 ET / 18.00 PT). The two sides are currently dead even on points, goal differential and goals scored after two matches, so only a winner can decide first place in the group standing.



On Thursday, both Canada and Brazil qualified for the semi-final stage with the elimination of Argentina and Costa Rica. In the opposite group, Colombia secured first place in Group A and will thus face the loser of the Canada-Brazil match on Saturday. Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Chile will all fight for second place in their Saturday matches.



Following the final group matches on Saturday, four teams will advance to the semi-final stage on Tuesday 25 October. The Tuesday winners will then advance to the gold-medal match on 27 October while the losers will play for bronze on the same day.



So far at this year’s Pan American Games, Canada has won 3:1 over Costa Rica and 1:0 over Argentina. Canada won a bronze medal four years ago and of course wants to improve on that ranking at this year’s tournament.



“The team is progressing,” said Canadian head coach John Herdman. “It is good to see a little bit of growth. While it was a scrappy game (against Argentina), there were still things (with which) we were happy.”



More importantly, however, Canada must prepare for this January’s 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Eight teams will compete in Vancouver from 15-29 January; only two CONCACAF teams will qualify for the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.



2012 CONCACAF WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING

This coming year’s 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament will take place in Vancouver, BC from 19-29 January at BC Place Stadium. Canada and seven other CONCACAF nations will fight for two available tickets to the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. The opponents are Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, and USA. Tickets to all matches are available via Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.ca or by 1.855.985.5000.