Briefs | Soccer: U.S. women qualify for Beijing Olympics

Soccer

U.S. women qualify for Beijing Olympics: The U.S. women's soccer team qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday night, beating Costa Rica 3-0 in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinals in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Natasha Kai had two goals and an assist — all in the second half — for the United States, which will face Canada in the final Saturday night. Canada also earned a spot in Beijing with its 1-0 victory over Mexico in the second semifinal.

Heather O'Reilly also scored. The U.S. goalkeeper was Hope Solo, the former Washington Husky standout from Richland.

Costa Rica's Saprissa beats Houston: Celso Borges and Jairo Arrieta scored goals and Saprissa advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final with a 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo in San Jose, Costa Rica. Saprissa won the series with a 3-0 aggregate score.

D.C. United eliminated by Pachuca: D.C. United was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup, scoring twice in the last five minutes to beat Pachuca 2-1 in Washington, D.C., but losing its semifinal against the Mexican club on 3-2 aggregate.

Revolution beats Wizards: Gambian forwards Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally scored in the first half to lead the New England Revolution to a 3-1 victory over the host Kansas City Wizards in Major League Soccer.

Guevara signs with Toronto FC: Former MLS player of the year Amado Guevara, 31, returned to the league when he signed with Toronto FC.

Man U to face Barcelona in semis: Carlos Tevez scored on a diving header in the 70th minute as host Manchester United beat AS Roma 1-0 to reach the European Champions League semifinals. Manchester United won the home-and-home series on 3-0 aggregate and will play Barcelona, which defeated visiting Schalke 1-0 and advanced on 2-0 aggregate.

Tennis

Venus Williams to undergo tests: Venus Williams will miss another tournament next week in Charleston, S.C., as she undergoes tests for a medical issue that her agent said isn't serious.

Davenport beats Craybas: Lindsay Davenport defeated Jill Craybas 6-1, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Fla.

Tsonga withdraws from Davis Cup match: Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulled out of France's team for this weekend's Davis Cup quarterfinal series against the United States with a right-knee injury.

Swimming

Three world records fall; Bremerton man involved: The decision by swimming's world governing body, FINA, not to ban the new high-tech Speedo suits resulted in another heap of records, this time at the world short-course championships in Manchester, England.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe started things off by setting the world record in the 400-meter individual medley (4:26.52). Then the U.S. team of Ryan Lochte, Bryan Lundquist, Nathan Adrian of Bremerton and Doug Van Wie broke the record in the men's 400 freestyle relay (3:08.44).

And then the Dutch team of Inge Dekker, Fernke Heemskerk, Marleen Veldhuis and Ranomi Kromowidjojo established a new mark in the women's 800 freestyle relay (7:38.90).

Only Van Wie did not wear a Speedo LZR swimsuit.

Horse racing

Derby contender Pyro draws post seven: Kentucky Derby contender Pyro drew post seven and was named the even-money favorite for Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Curling

China upsets Canada; U.S. wins: China upset the previously undefeated Canadian team at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., the first loss for Canada in eight round-robin games. The United States defeated Sweden and Germany.

Seattle Times news services