Canada into Gold Cup semis after nervy win over Costa Rica

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Canada survived a scare Saturday to reach the semifinals of the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup, narrowly defeating Costa Rica 1-0 in extra time.

Substitute Evelyne Viens scored the decisive goal of the quarterfinal contest, flicking a header into the top corner in the 104th minute after Canadian captain Jessie Fleming clipped an inviting free-kick into the penalty area.

The AS Roma forward, 27, broke the deadlock with her fifth international goal.

Canada, which entered the knockout stage as the tournament's No. 1 overall seed after topping its group with a perfect record, peppered the Costa Rican goal, finishing the match with 39 shot attempts.

Costa Rica, which only reached the quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed via a drawing of lots after finishing the group stage level on every possible tiebreaker with Puerto Rico, had just one shot on target over the 120 minutes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

That singular chance, though, was arguably the best of the entire game.

Deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half, Canadian netminder Kailen Sheridan produced a phenomenal close-range save to deny Alexa Herrera the would-be winning goal.

Canada, inches away from being sent packing in stunning fashion, recovered in extra time and finally made its pressure count through Viens' header.

Bev Priestman's team will now meet the winner of Sunday's clash between the United States and Colombia in the semifinals.