US on course to qualify for Rio Games

Salt Lake City: Second-half goals by Marc Pelosi and Jordan Kiesewetter lifted the United States over Canada 2-0 Tuesday, keeping alive the Americans’ hopes of reaching the 2016 Rio Olympic football tournament.

The US under-23 side finished third in the North American regional (Concacaf) men’s Olympic qualifying tournament, advancing to a March playoff against Colombia to decide a berth at next year’s Olympics in Brazil.

Pelosi scored in the 69th minute and Kiesewetter added an insurance goal on a penalty kick in the 84th minute for the American men, who last played in the Olympics at Beijing in 2008.

The loss eliminated Canada from any hopes at claiming an Olympic spot for the first time since 1984.