Canadian women secure semifinal berth at Olympic soccer qualifier

Christine Sinclair scored a milestone goal to help lift the Canadian women's soccer team to a 6-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament in Houston.

The second-half marker, the 159th international goal of Sinclair's career, moved her ahead of Mia Hamm into second place on the all-time international goal scoring list. American Abby Wambach is first with 184.

Diana Matheson, Melissa Tancredi, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming and Janine Beckie also scored for the Canadians, who took their second win in as many games and moved into first place in Group B of the competition and secured a berth in the semifinals.

The winners of the semifinals will earn Olympic berths.

Matheson's goal, at the 24th minute, and Tancredi's at the 42nd, gave Canada a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Matheson was sprung by Josee Belanger and had space on the right side of the Canadian attack. Trinidad goalkeeper Kimika Forbes had left a large opening at the short side and Matheson took advantage of that with a low shot that snuck under Forbes as she was trying to get back into position.

Canada was rarely under pressure but Trinidad and Tobago had a handful of moments on the counter-attack.

In the 31st minute, Desiree Scott gave the ball away just outside the Canadian penalty area and Mariah Shade was playing in with only goalkeeper Erin McLeod to beat. McLeod rushed off her line, cut down the angle and managed to catch Shade's shot and not give up a rebound.

Tancredi's goal was her first in almost four years. Midfielder Ashley Lawrence crossed in from the left side and an unmarked Tancredi headed it in from close range.

Sinclair started on the bench but came on in just over 15 minutes into the second half and made an immediate impact, scoring two minutes after she was introduced.

Beckie's goal came in the 76th minute and Fleming gave Canada the 6-0 lead in the 80th.

Canada defeated Guyana 5-0 in its opener and completes the group stage on Tuesday against Guatemala at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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