U.S. women close Olympic qualifiers downing Canada

The United States has won the past three gold medals and four overall since women’s soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996. Canada, the bronze medalists in the 2012 London Games, will be making its third straight trip to the Olympics.

The U.S. went with the same lineup it used for the semifinals, starting 17-year-old Mallory Pugh, who is headed to UCLA in the fall. It was the third start of the tournament for Pugh, the youngest player to start for the U.S. in a qualifier.

Canada coach John Herdman rested several of his usual starters, including Sinclair, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, and goalkeeper Erin McLeod. Matheson, Schmidt and Sinclair all came in as subs in the second half. Melissa Tancredi wore the captain’s armband.

Sinclair has been nursing a calf injury throughout the tournament, but nonetheless surpassed Mia Hamm for second on the career scoring list during the tournament. Sinclair sits at 161 goals, behind Abby Wambach’s 184.

Carli Lloyd’s headers in the 13th and 23rd minutes were off and the Canadians were surprisingly adept at stopping the U.S. attack in the first half.

The match was physical, as goalkeeper Hope Solo had predicted: Co-captain Lloyd endured a kick to the back and was pulled to the ground with about five minutes to go before the break.

The United States finally broke through with Horan’s header that was misjudged by Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe in the 53rd minute.

Horan’s teammate on the Portland Thorns, Heath, added a goal in the 61st minute on an assist from Pugh.

The U.S. team looks very different — and younger — than the group that won the Women’s World Cup last summer in Canada. Several players, including vets Wambach and Lauren Holiday, retired from the team at the end of the year. Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux are taking time off because they are both expecting. And Megan Rapinoe is recovering from knee surgery.

Coach Jill Ellis also is working with smaller rosters that the 23 she took to Canada. The qualifying roster was set at 20, and the Olympic roster this summer in Brazil will be limited to 18.

The United States has never dropped a game in Olympic qualifying, going 18-0-1.

At the Olympics four years ago, the United States beat Canada 4-3 in a contentious semifinal. Morgan scored the winning goal in the 123rd minute after the United States tied it late in regulation on a penalty kick following two controversial calls that went against Canada.

U.S. co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn made her 100th appearance with the national team, becoming the 35th player to reach that many caps.