Canada have qualified for the Olympic Games for the fourth consecutive time after a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica at the 2020 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship on Friday. Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System product Jordyn Huitema scored the lone goal in the Concacaf semifinal victory as Canada also advanced to the championship final on Sunday.
Canada are one of only five nations in the world to qualify for each of three previous Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments and the only nation to reach the podium at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
“Costa Rica made it difficult, but we dominated, we finally got one, and we were so solid defensively that we weren’t going to give one up after that,” said Canadian captain Christine Sinclair. “Going to the Olympic Games never gets old and every one brings a different story and different experience. We can now look forward to getting back on that podium.”
With the win, Canada also advanced to their fourth consecutive final at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, this time to be played Sunday at the Health Dignity Park in Carson, California. The match will be broadcast live in Canada on OneSoccer.ca as well as on Rogers TV, SaskTel, and TELUS (18.00 ET / 15.00 PT). Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter featuring the social media hashtag #CANWNT.
“We have so many skillful players that we are able to rotate our starting players and keep everyone fresh, so come game time everyone is able to really perform and come out at 100 percent,” said Canadian goalscorer Jordyn Huitema. “I think it really showed tonight how fresh, versatile and hungry our team was as we just pushed until that last whistle.”
