US and Canada Battle for U20 World Cup Place

Whitecaps residency product Ben Fisk has starred for Canada
Photo: Whitecaps FC

Today marks a chance for the youngsters of the USA and Canada to secure a place in the World Cup.

They meet at 3pm Pacific in the quarterfinals of the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario Lobos BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.

The winners advance to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey later this year.

The Americans arrive on a high having topped Group A with a 2-1 victory against Haiti on Feb. 18 and a 1-0 win against Costa Rica four days later. Two MLS stars were involved in the winning goal. LA Galaxy’s Jose Villarreal headed in off a corner kick by Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil.

Canada took second place in Group B behind Cuba, who beat them 2-1 but then thumped Nicaragua 5-1 to secure the runner-up spot and advance to the quarterfinals. Promisingly four different scorers illuminated that display; Vancouver Whitecaps’ Caleb Clarke (2), Samuel Piette, Mauro Eustaquio and Ben McKendry.

Further local interest is provided by another Whitecap Ben Fisk, who has played all 180 minutes of Canada’s campaign so far.

The other quarter final today is Cuba v Costa Rica.

Mexico play Jamaica and Panama play El Salvador tomorrow in the remaining quarter finals.