Costa RicaBrazilian national team players celebrate during their playoff victory over Honduras to reach the Copa America (Orlando Sierra)
Canada and Costa Rica booked their places in this year's Copa America on Saturday after winning both their CONCACAF qualifying matches in Texas.
Canada qualified for the tournament after defeating Trinidad and Tobago 2-0, before Costa Rica came from behind to defeat Honduras 3-1 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Sil Larin Jacob Schavelborg earned the win for Canada, which will now face the world champions Argentina In the opening match of the Copa America on June 20.
“This means a lot to us as a team,” Larin said after the win. “I'm happy to have scored a goal and to move forward in the Copa America.”
“It was a good performance by the players. We knew it would be difficult to break through but we stuck to the game, stuck together and got the win.”
Real Mallorca winger Larin put Canada ahead in the 61st minute with a low shot into the bottom corner after good work from Tajon Buchanan down the right flank.
Substitute Schavelburg made the game safe by scoring Canada's second goal in stoppage time after receiving a pass from Jonathan David before firing a thunderous shot into the roof of the goal from inside the penalty area.
Canada's reward for its win on Saturday is a place in Group A of the Copa America alongside Lionel Messi's Argentina, Peru and Chile.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica will play in Group D alongside them Brazilian, Colombia And Paraguay after beating Honduras 3-1.
An entertaining match saw Honduras take the lead through Michael Chirinos' thunderous 25-yard strike into the Costa Rica net after 10 minutes.
Orlando Gallo equalized for Costa Rica two minutes later from close range after Honduras failed to clear a free kick inside the penalty area.
Then youngster Warren Madrigal fired in a stunning long-range shot to put Costa Rica ahead in the 56th minute, before Jefferson Brenes doubled Los Ticos' lead in the 62nd minute to make the game safe.
The Copa America, South America's international soccer tournament, has been expanded to include teams from CONCACAF this year and will be held in venues across the United States.
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