Team Canada will be sending their women’s soccer team to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. On Friday in Carson, California, Canada defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in the semifinals of the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.
This is the fourth consecutive Olympic Games and fourth time overall that Canada qualified for the Olympic Games in women’s soccer. At the last two Olympic Games (in 2012 in London and in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro), Canada came away with a bronze medal on each occasion.
In Canada’s win over Costa Rica, Jordyn Huitema of Chilliwack, British Columbia, scored in the 72nd minute for the lone goal in the game. The 18 year-old Huitema actually hit the post on her initial shot and then got her own rebound where she scored.
It has been a breakout tournament for Huitema, who has a tournament leading seven goals. Five of the goals came in Canada’s 9-0 win over Jamaica on February 1.
The other team to qualify from CONCACAF for the 2020 Olympic Games in women’s soccer is the United States. On Friday, the Americans defeated Mexico 4-0.
The 2020 CONCACAF Olympic men’s soccer tournament will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico from March 20 to April 1. Canada is in a pool with Haiti, Honduras and El Savador. The top two teams from the eight team tournament qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
