BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The women's Argentine team qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Madrid, Spain, by defeating the United States 3-0 in the final of the second Pan-American Cup on Wednesday night at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex here.

Meanwhile, the US will play the World Cup qualifying tournament to take place in Azerbaijan (a country located between Iran and Russia, in Southernwestern Asia) in March 2006.

Though Argentina dominated the first half producing excellent goal options, specially through Soledad García, the US opposed a clever tactic to stop the Argentine advances.

Then, they distributed play well, moving the ball quickly to prevent to hold it for long.

The North Americans took advantage of the counter-attacks, producing also dangerous play well saved by Argentina's back row and keeper Paola Vukojicic.

Both teams went to half-time without scoring as the world champions could not break the US resistance.

Argentina showed, after half-time, why are they the current world champions, setting the pace from start to finish.

The South Americans opened the score early, two minutes after half-time, through Soledad García, who capitalized on a reverse cross from the left by Inés Arrondo.

Argentina gained the midfield, cutting the US playmaking system.

The national side back row moved up in the field pushing hard their rivals and showing their usual skills and talent.

Thus, they increased the lead to 2-0 through García, again, from a corner cross, in the 47th minute.

Two minutes later, another wonderful play by García finished in an accurate cross that Gulla connected for the 3-0 score.

From then on, the world champions controlled the game until the end to gain the 2006 World Cup berth.

Luciana Aymar became the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Vanina Oneto was the top scorer with 10 goals.

The Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament was Netherlands Antilles' Charlotte Hartmans van de Rijdt.

Argentina: Vukojicic; Margalot, Burkart, Aicega, Ferrari; González Oliva, Aymar, Stepnik; Arrondo, García and Gulla. Also played: Oneto, Russo, Doreski, Hernández and Rodríguez. Coach: Sergio Vigil.

United States: Tran; Lingo, Beach, Larson, Jelley; Loy, Rizzo, Fuchs, Barber; McCann and K. Smith. Also played: T. Smith, Wooley, Fronzoni and Keller. Coach: Beth Anders.

Umpires: Claudia Videla (Chile) and Renate Peters (Germany).

Booking - Green: 13m, Larson (US).

Canada Win Bronze

Canada demolished Uruguay 5-0 to take the third of the tournament yesterday.

The match was even during the first 20 minutes as Uruguay appeared organized, accurate and marking well.

But Canada started to dominate step by step until they opened the score through Stephanie Hume, in the 19th minute.

Uruguay continued pushing to get a short corner without consequences for Canada, but it had for themselves as Canada’s clearing off allowed a fast counter-attack through which Kelly Rezansoff increased the lead.

From then on, Canada increased their dominance to net two more from Deb Cuthbert, in the 31st and 34th minute.

The Uruguayan fought hard after half-time preventing Canada to net. But a short corner gave the North Americans the 5-0, in the 56th minute.

Canada: Forbes; MacLean, Hunt, D'Abreo, Rushton; Jameson, Rezansoff, Taunton; Magnus, Cuthbert and Leslie. Also played: Simpson, Hume, Buker, Johnstone and Liu. Coach: Kimo Linders.

Uruguay: Fazzio; Bisignano, Ceretta, Chaira, Rebollo; Margni, Bueno, Carluccio, Raiz; Dupont and Casabó. Also played: Gibernau, Saquero, Tilve and Acquarone. Coach: Cristián González.

Umpires: Soledad Iparraguirre (Argentina) and Jun Kentwell (US).

Booking - Green card: 20m, Bueno (U).