Canada clinched a berth in the semi-final stage of the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying tournament Monday, but failed to win its group finale after an added-time Cuba goal dashed any chance of a first-place finish.

The 1-1 draw with Cuba gives Canada five points in the three group phase matches that were played in Nashville, TN.

Canada will travel to Kansas City today before facing the winner of Group B (from Los Angeles) in the first of two semi-final matches on March 31.

Canada is expected to face Mexico for a spot in the London 2012 Olympics. Mexico not only leads its group, but also has a 10-goal advantage over the one team that could tie Mexico on six points. Mexico has six points and a plus-nine goal differential while Honduras has three points and a minus-one goal differential.

Evan James scored Canada’s goal in the 25th minute. Working down deep in the Cuban box, Lucas Cavallini played it back to James at the top of the box who then fired a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Canada held the one-goal edge for more than an hour before Maykel Reyes scored the equalizer on a header from a Dairon Blanco free kick just outside the Canadian box. The goal was scored in the 91st minute, less than two minutes before referee Hugo Cruz blew the final whistle.

Canada's starting 11 featured Michal Misiewicz in goal, Matt Stinson at right back, Drew Beckie and Doneil Henry at centre back, Russell Teibert at left back, and Samuel Piette, Shaun Saiko, Marcus Haber, Cavallini, Carl Haworth and James from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Fonseca replaced Saiko off with Kyle Bekker (46'), Haworth off for Philippe Davies (77'), and Cavallini off for Sherif El-Masri (83').

Canada finished the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying group phase unbeaten with one win and two draws.

About the writer:

Ron Patey followed his all-star soccer-playing career in Canada and the U.S. by keeping close tabs on the beautiful game since the 1970s. During his 21 years as special sections editor for the Ottawa Sun, he covered portions of the soccer scene in the nation’s capital

Internet site reference: http://www.examiner.com/soccer-in-ottawa/canada-advances-to-semi-finals-after-tie-with-cuba