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US, Honduras punch CONCACAF tickets

Canada's Andrew Hainault, right, heads the ball above the US' Freddy Adu during second-half action in their CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying semi-final match at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. PHOTO: EPA

The US and Honduras booked their berths in the 2008 Beijing Olympic soccer tournament with victories over Canada and Guatemala on Thursday.

Freddy Adu scored twice and Sacha Kljestan once for the US under-23 squad in the semi-final contest of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

In the other semi-final, Honduras beat Guatemala by winning a penalty shootout contest 6-5.

"Freddy has been very positive since the beginning of this camp," American coach Peter Nowak said. "It was very encouraging to see not only a guy who scores the goals and creates the chances, but he's also a team player. When we need to pick up our tempo, he's there."

This marks the 14th time the US has qualified for the Olympics. Adu gave the US a 2-0 lead with goals in the 27th and 48th minutes. Kljestan clinched the win late in the second half with another tally.

"For most of these guys this will be their last chance to be able to play in the Olympics," Nowak said. "It's the biggest event on the planet with 8 billion people watching."

The US is now 4-2-1 against Canada in Olympic qualifying matches. Canada (1-2-1), the second-place finisher in Group B, last qualified for the Olympics in 1984, when the Games were held in Los Angeles.

Honduras will play the US tomorrow in the final. The US won the first meeting 1-0.
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