Mexico's Monica Ocampo (left) controls the ball as Jamaica's Nicola Bell defends during the first half of their CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup third place football match in Carson, California, on Sunday. Mexico won 3-0. - Reuters

CARSON, California (CMC):

Jamaica's slim chance of reaching the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China were buried on Sunday at the Home Depot Center, when Mexico clobbered them 3-0 in the third-place playoff of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.

The self-proclaimed Reggae Girlz could find no response, after they conceded three first half goals to the Mexicans in the first match of a double header that also saw the United States earn a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada to claim their third CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.

The Jamaica squad comprised 10 teenagers - the most in any of the six teams that took part in the Gold Cup -- and they would feel proud of finishing as the fourth best team in CONCACAF, after Monica Ocampo scored a brace, and skipper Maribel Dominquez added the other item for the Mexicans in the first half.

Purposeful attack

The Jamaicans conceded their opening goal in the 20th minute, when Alicia Wilson was called for a foul on Ocampo deep inside the penalty area and the speedy Mexican striker put away the spot kick.

After one of their more purposeful attacks ended with Venicia Reid on the turf and female American referee Kari Seitz ignoring appeals for a penalty, the Jamaicans fell further behind, when Dominguez waltzed her way through the Reggae Girlz defence, and went past on-rushing netminder Paula Jackson to find the back of an empty goal.

Ocampo then put the lights out of any comeback from the Jamaicans, when she collected a centre pass and rifled a rasping shot past Jackson seven minutes from the break.

Victory handed Mexico a spot in a two-game playoff against Japan for the final Women's World Cup berth.

In the Championship match, the United States' victory came courtesy of a stoppage time penalty kick from captain Kristine Lilly in the game's 120th minute, after midfielder Carli Lloyd was fouled in the area by Canadian defender Robyn Gayle.

The Americans are now a perfect three-for-three in CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, beating Canada in overtime by an identical score in 2002, and winning the inaugural tournament in 2000.

More importantly, though, the team's results this week qualify them for the 2007 Women's World Cup in China and extend their record unbeaten streak to 32 games dating back to 2004.

The United States benefited from an early goal in just the sixth minute through a 15-yard strike from defensive midfielder Leslie Osborne.

Entertaining half

Canada were finally able to answer the American goal with a solid strike from Randee Hermus on the stroke of half-time, after a foul by defender Heather Mitts on the right flank saw Canada's Melanie Booth send a free-kick into the area that landed on the head of American defensive midfielder Marci Miller before dropping for Hermus.

Both teams attacked with energy and created dangerous chances in an entertaining, but goalless second half, before Lilly got the winner, sending Erin McLeod the wrong way on her professionally taken penalty kick into the lower right corner of the goal.

With Argentina and Brazil qualifying last week, there are only two berths still available for China - the winner of the Mexico-Japan playoff, and the winner of the Oceania qualification tournament to be held in June next year.

Those teams will join hosts China, Australia and North Korea from Asia; Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and England from Europe; Nigeria and Ghana from Africa; the United States and Canada from CONCACAF; and Brazil and Argentina from South America.

The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup will be staged from September 10 to 30 in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu and Tianjin in China.