KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Canada's game plan clicked against Panama on Saturday.
Michael Petrasso and Skylar Thomas scored in the first half as Canada's men's under-22 team topped Panama 3-1 on Saturday at the CONCACAF Olympic soccer qualifying tournament.
The Canadians were coming off a frustrating 3-1 loss to the United States on Thursday but Thomas says the only thing that changed was their fortune.
"It wasn't too much different, I think, today we were a little bit luckier," said Thomas. "I think against the U.S. we were a little bit unlucky and the result didn't reflect how well we played. Today we put out a good performance again and got the win this time."
The United States leads Group A, followed by Canada. The top two teams from the tournament will qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The third-place team faces Colombia in a playoff.
Petrasso broke behind Panama's line in the 30th minute, taking a through pass from Caleb Clarke and outpacing a Panamanian defender, chipping the ball past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Carlos Small was given a direct red card in the 34th minute, reducing Panama to 10 men for the rest of the match.
Thomas doubled the lead in the same minute, headed a corner kick, bouncing the ball off a post. The spin of the ball took it across the goal line for a 2-0 Canadian lead.
"We've been working on that in training," said Thomas. "I got there, got up, and hit it down to the near post and it went off both posts and in the net."
Short-handed Panama got on the board in the 61st minute when Edgar Barcenas put a cross past the outstretched Maxime Crepeau in Canada's net.
Panama had a goal called off as offside in the 69th minute.
Ben Fisk added to Canada's lead in the 74th minute with a highlight-reel goal. He curled it past Panama's goalkeeper from the top of the 18-yard box for a 3-1 advantage.
Canada continues its tournament on Tuesday against Panama in Commerce City, Colo.
"Right now it's about resting. We've played two games in three days which is really hard on our legs," said Thomas. "Right now it's about resting and preparing ourselves mentally for the next team."
It's been 31 years since Canada last played men's soccer at the Los Angeles Olympics. Back then the qualifying road in North and Central America and the Caribbean was made easier by the absence of the U.S. as Olympic host. Canada's only other participation in the Olympic men's soccer field was in 1976 when Montreal hosted the Games.
