GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada faced a mammoth task in its bid for its first Olympic men’s soccer berth in nearly four decades — it needed to beat Mexico on their home soil.

But Uriel Antuna and Johan Vasquez scored to lift Mexico to a 2-0 victory over Canada in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship on Sunday.

“We lost to the best team in CONCACAF,”  said Canadian coach Mauro Biello.

Mexico, the Olympic gold medallists in 2012, clinched their 12th Olympic berth with the victory, while the Canadians, who haven’t played on the Olympic stage since 1984, must wait another three years.

Canada came into the tournament — which was postponed a year due to COVID-19 — 0-4-2 against Mexico at the under-23 level in Olympic qualifying since 1992. No Canadian men’s team has ever won a competitive match in Mexico..

The Mexicans outshot Canada 19-3, and 6-1 on target on Sunday.