Mexico made it through with a 3-1 win over Canada while Honduras beat El Salvador 3-2 after extra-time at Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas.

Mexico were indebted to Chivas de Guadalajara midfielder Marco Fabian, who scored one and set up another for the Mexicans, who return to the Olympics after missing out in 2008.

Canada had a promising start to the game as they looked to repeat their shock 2-0 win over United States hosts earlier in the tournament against the Mexicans.

Evan James and Philippe Davies both came close but they were made to pay for not taking a chance as Fabian put Mexico in front after 20 minutes with a fine goal.

Fabian latched onto a long pass from Hector Herrera to beat Michal Misiewicz making it 1-0.

Canada refused to give in though and equalised just after the half hour mark through Marcus Haber, who headed home a cross from Davies.


Alan Pulido (pictured below in black) soon restored Mexico's advantage, taking a neat pass from Fabian in his stride to fire past Misiewicz.

The second period was largely controlled by the Mexicans, who sealed the win when Miguel Ponce scored with a fine effort from the edge of the area.

"I feel very happy," said Mexico coach Luis Fernando Tena.

"It is a very good generation of players we have here.

"When you're coach of the national team, you get a lot of criticism, so you have to be ready.

"A lot of good things have happened to us, I am very very happy for the players...I think we deserved it."

Having beaten Argentina in the final of the 2011 Pan American Games, and with a clutch of top young players not in the US for the qualifiers, including Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Jonathan dos Santos, Mexico could be a dark horse for gold this summer.


Tony Fonseca, the Canada coach, said he was proud of his side despite the defeat.

"We knew coming in that they would [have] a mountain to climb.

"I am very proud of the boys.

"They fought with everything, they left everything on the field.

"Unfortunately, we faced a team that was better than us."

Mexico will now go into Monday's (April 2) final, also being played in Kansas, where they will face Honduras, who secured their trip to London with a 3-2 win over neighbouring El Salvador after extra time.

It was a thrilling game between two sides who once went to war in 1969 following a World Cup qualifier, and featured four headed goals.

Honduras, who won the 2008 Olympic qualifiers, took the lead three times against El Salvador before they could seal the win.

Antony Lozano (pictured below, number 9) put them in front within a minute of kick off in Kansas, firing in after the ball deflected into his path, and had appeared set to qualify, but paid the price for trying to close the game down rather than search for a second goal.


Milton Molina struck an equaliser in the 77th minute to send the game to extra time and punish Honduras, when he met a corner to head in.

Honduras went back in front in the 11th minute of extra time, Rodas heading in a cross from Alexander Lopez.

Yet another header, from Edwin Sanchez, then brought El Salvador level again just as the second half of extra time began, but with five minutes left and penalties looming, Rodas got on the end of a cross from Andy Najar to nod in the winner.

"El Salvador fought valiantly," said Luis Fernando Suarez, the Honduras coach.

"They played a very good game, they might have deserved to win," he conceded.

"It has been a very hard road, even to get to the qualification...there's a long road ahead of playing in the Olympics."

El Salvador coach Mauricio Alfaro was left to rue "missed chances" and said that "continuity was missing".

"We played better than Honduras in the second half."

Honduras beat Mexico in the semi-final of the 2000 Olympic qualifiers to deny their rivals a place in Sydney that year.

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