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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Melissa Tancredi is turning into a slick striker for Canada's women's soccer team. They'll need her to be at her best now that they're headed to Beijing.
Tancredi scored the only goal as Canada qualified for this summer's Olympic Games with a 1-0 semifinal win over Mexico at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament on Wednesday.
It's the third goal in as many games for the Hamilton native. She had goals in Canada's round-robin wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.
The tournament has been a confidence-builder for Tancredi, who has had to battle her share of injuries.
"I'm very happy for her and very happy with her performance in this tournament," said Canadian coach Even Pellerud. "She has suffered from a lot of injuries and her fitness has always been hurt by that, but she has really become a very smart power striker and she's getting stronger and fitter and smarter."
The top two teams in the tournament qualify for Beijing, which meant Canada needed to win against a Mexico side that showed pace and some creative passing.
Wednesday's game was a rematch of the 2004 Olympic qualification semifinal, which Mexico won 2-1 to deny Canada a spot at the Athens Games. But after a hard-fought win, payback wasn't on Pellerud's mind.
"I'm not much of a revenge guy," Pellerud said. "I think the biggest challenge was to prove who was the best team. I think we've played 12 or 13 games against Mexico and never lost except that one game four years ago."
While Tancredi has provided timely offence, Canada has had solid performances from its defence and goaltending. Canadian goaltender Erin McLeod recorded her third shutout of the tournament against Mexico.
"The whole back four was excellent, and Erin was very, very focused in net," Pellerud said. "She played easily her best game in this tournament today. That was a good day to peak."
Canada will face the United States in Saturday's final.
The top-ranked Americans beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Wednesday's other semi. Natasha Kai had two goals and an assist for the U.S.
