13 April 2013
Canada twice came from behind to defeat Jamaica 4:2 in the quarter-final of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama to book a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.
Andrew Gordon scored a pair of goals while Hanson Boakai and Jordan Hamilton chipped in with a goal each as Canada's U17's mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to salvage its qualifying campaign.
"It is a tremendous feeling and you cannot take these moments for granted," said U-17 Head Coach Sean Fleming.
"The boys were immense in the second half and to qualify for our second-consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup is a great achievement for this program."
This marks the sixth time that Canada has qualified for a FIFA U-17 World Cup.
After a 16-year absence from the competition (1995 to 2011), the country has qualified for its second-straight time after claiming its first-ever point at the tournament at Mexico 2011.
Canada will now take on hosts Panama in the semi-final of the CONCACAF Championship on Wednesday 17 April in Panama City.
Fleming's U-17 side will be looking to go on to claim Canada's 4th CONCACAF Youth Championship medal in the last six tournaments.
View match reportCanada move to within one game of FIFA U-17 World Cup
Posted on 10 April 2013 in Men's U-17 Team
The Costa Ricans had taken the lead courtesy of a lobbed effort from Arington Torres - but Boakai's goal restored Canada's comfortable grip on first place in Group B and was enough to move the team to within one game of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Canadian U-17's will next take on Jamaica in the tournament quarter-finals on Saturday 13 April.
The winner of the quarter-final will be one of four CONCACAF nations to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to take place in UAE in October.
"I knew it was dangerous to come into this game playing for a result - so I asked the boys to focus on their performance," said Head Coach Sean Fleming.
"Hanson Boakai scored a quality goal and ultimately that was important to see us through.
"We know that Jamaica are a quality side - so we will have to be prepared."
Canadian midfielder Marco Dominguez received a late yellow in the match, his second of the tournament, which means that he will now be suspended for the quarter-final.
Match Report: Canada M17 1:1 Costa Rica
Match Highlights: Canada M17 1:1 Costa Rica
CANM17: CAN 1-1 CRC, Post-match reaction from Sean Fleming
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Media Contacts
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