Soccer: U.S. tops Canada 3-0, gains Olympics berth

    BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The U.S. men's soccer team qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, because Jozy Altidore could stand the pain of taking fouls and Freddy Adu converted two free kicks in a 3-0 win over Canada in CONCACAF qualifying semifinals.

    Sacha Klejstan also scored in a victory that gave the Americans their seventh berth in eight Olympics dating to 1980, with 2004 the lone miss in that stretch.

    "It was worth the pain in the end because now we get to play on a bigger stage, with the best players in the world," Altidore said.

    Asked what he thought of Adu's free kicks, Canadian coach Nick Dasovic had a simple answer. He hated it and didn't like seeing Adu preparing to take the kicks.

    "When he's in front of the goal with so much space, he can almost pick a spot," Dasovic said.

    Now Adu, 18, and the rest of the Americans can start preparing for a trip to Beijing.

    "The Olympics are great. Everybody watches it. I watched it growing up. It's just an honor to represent your country in such a big event," Adu said.

    Honduras took the other berth in Beijing in the earlier semifinal in a 0-0 tie decided 6-5 on penalty kicks. Honduras and the United States will meet Sunday for the tournament championship in a rematch of a game last weekend the Americans won 1-0 in Tampa, Florida.

    (Agencies)