Canada crashes out of CONCACAF U20 championship with 4-2 loss to the U.S.

PUEBLA, Mexico - Canada was eliminated from the 2013 CONCACAF under-20 championship on Tuesday thanks to a 4-2 quarter-final loss to the United States.

The loss means that Canada fails to qualify for this summer's FIFA under-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Canada opened the scoring through Dylan Carreiro but then conceded four unanswered American goals to put the game out of reach.

Jose Villareal scored twice for the Americans, who also had goals from Luis Gil and William Trapp. Samuel Piette got a goal back for Canada, which hasn't qualified for an U20 World Cup since hosting the event in 2007.

Canada started with promise and took the lead in the 23rd minute when Carreiro caught the U.S. goalkeeper out of position and unleashed a right-footed shot from 20 yards away that snuck inside the post.

But it was all downhill from there as the Americans took advantage of Canada's leaky defence.

Gil got the U.S. on the board six minutes later after controlling Daniel Cuevas' cross from the left side. Gil had plenty of time to control before dispatching a left-footed effort home to tie the game.

With Canada's defending already looking suspect, things got worse when captain Doneil Henry had to be subbed off with an apparent hamstring injury.

Things further deteriorated as Mario Rodriguez of the U.S. crossed in from the left side in the 40th minute to set up Villareal's first of the night on a simple tap in.

Canada was a team that badly needing to get to halftime but the Americans had a further twist of the knife after goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau could only punch a corner clear. Trapp hit a shot from 25 yards out that took a deflection past Crepeau.

Already down a pair of goals as the second half started, Canada had a decent shout for a penalty in the 54th minute as Piette was clearly taken down in the box but after their appeal was waved off, the Americans countered. The ball ended up on Villareal's feet just inside the penalty area and he had plenty of time to bury his second.

Piette gave Canada some hope in the 64th minute with a long-range goal, but Canada couldn't get any closer as both Keven Aleman and Caleb Clarke wasted chances later in the half.

Note: The top four teams at the tournament qualify for this summer's U20 World Cup.