Canadian women's soccer team tops Jamaica, will face U.S. in CONCACAF W Championship final

Almost a year after Canada downed the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympic semifinal, they meet again — this time with Olympic qualification on the line.

The top-ranked U.S. and sixth-ranked Canadian women face off Monday in the final of the CONCACAF W Championship after dispatching No. 37 Costa Rica and No. 51 Jamaica by identical 3-0 scores in semifinal play Thursday at the eight-team tournament.

Canada outshot Jamaica 18-1 (9-0 in shots on target), according to CONCACAF. The U.S. outshot Costa Rica 15-2 (7-0 in shots on target). The two North American rivals have each won four straight while not conceding a goal in reaching the championship game.

After facing lesser opposition that opted to pack their defence, the Canadians will face a far more dangerous and creative foe in the U.S.

"You always want to test yourselves and the U.S. are an incredible team," said Canada coach Bev Priestman. "I know that they'll definitely be coming into this game with Tokyo in the back of their mind. They'll want to put that right … There's a lot on the line."

While content with her team's progress at the tournament, Priestman believes it has "another level" to give.

"And I do think playing a team like the U.S. will bring out some of our strengths that maybe teams haven't allowed us to do."

Jessie Fleming scored in the first half and substitutes Allysha Chapman and Adriana Leon added second-half goals for the Canadians in a comfortable win over Jamaica. Canada held the upper hand all match and the score could have been more lopsided had it not been for Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer, who plays for England's Tottenham.

Canada gradually turned up the pressure as the first half wore on, coming on in waves. The Reggae Girlz had a few moments in the Canadian end but did not manufacture chances. Priestman went to her bench early in the second half, allowing captain Christine Sinclair to have a short night.

Canada and the U.S. have met in five of the previous 10 CONCACAF women's finals, with the U.S. winning all five. But the Canadians beat the Americans 1-0 in the Tokyo semifinal — on a Fleming penalty — en route to claiming gold last summer. The U.S. went on to win bronze.

WATCH | Canada shuts out Jamaica:

The Canadian women won the CONCACAF tournament in 1998 and 2010, beating Mexico in the final both times. The Americans have won the other eight editions, including the last two.

All four CONCACAF W semifinalists booked their ticket to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by virtue of making the tournament final four. Haiti and Panama, who placed third in their respective groups, move on to a World Cup intercontinental playoff.

The CONCACAF champion qualifies for both the 2024 Paris Olympics and the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup, also scheduled for 2024. The runner-up and third-place team will meet in a CONCACAF Olympic play-in series, scheduled for September 2023, with the winner booking their ticket to Paris Olympics and Gold Cup.