Despite missing out on qualification to the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, Caribbean side Haiti had something to celebrate from their failed Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship campaign, as striker Lourdjina Etienne was named Player of the Tournament, in Mexico.

Etienne, was instrumental in Haiti getting to the semi-finals, as she accounted for eight of the French-speaking Caribbean nation’s nine goals in the tournament, the last of which came in a 1-4 defeat to Canada in the third-place playoff.

The sensational Etienne, first scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Costa Rica, followed by a four-timer in their 5-3 triumph over El Salvador. She then scored both goals for Haiti in the knockout stage, as they lost 1-7 to eventually champions United States in the semi-finals and surrendered the lead in their third-place playoff loss to Canada.

United States, who clinched their sixth hold –fourth-consecutively – on the Concacaf Under-17 Women’s title, headlined the standout performances over the two weeks at, both the individual and collectively. Along with their overall honours, they also copped the tournament’s Fair Play award, while striker Kennedy Fuller took the Top Scorer award.

Fuller was as prolific as a young player can be, as she started the tournament with a five-goal performance in a 13-0 group stage win over Panama. She then followed that up with a goal in the 5-0 win over Canada in their group stage top-of-the-table clash. Fuller was just as effective in the knockout round, where she secured a brace in the 7-1 semi-final win over Haiti to give to end with eight goals for the tournament.

Meanwhile, host and runners-up Mexico was not to be left out, as Camila Vazquez copped the Best Goalkeeper award.

Vazquez was a big part of Mexico’s run to the final, as she registered a clean sheet in each of El Tricolor’s three group stage matches, and then just a single goal in the semi-finals against Canada. However, she had no answers to the rampant United States attack, as Mexico conceded four times.

United States, Mexico, and Canada –with their fifth third-place finish, the most by any team in the tournament’s history –will join host Dominican Republic as Concacaf's representatives at the 16-team Under-17 Women's World Cup later this year. This will be the first time Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation hosts a FIFA World Cup, and their first participation at this age level.

Caribbean side Haiti and Canada will do battle to decide Concacaf's other representative at this year's FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, as the curtains come down on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship in Mexico, on Sunday.

Both United States and Mexico secured their sixth and seventh World Cup berths by virtue of contrasting 7-1 and 2-1 semi-finals victories over Haiti and Canada respectively. The powerhouse teams will again lock horns in Sunday's final to crown the winners of the championship.

United States, Mexico, the winner of the third-place game between Haiti and Canada, will join host Dominican Republic as Concacaf's representatives at the 16-team Under-17 Women's World Cup later this year. This will be the first time Dominican Republic hosts a FIFA World Cup, and their first participation at this age level.

United States 7-1 Haiti

The day started with defending champions United States again demonstrating their class, as they overpowered Haiti in a lopsided affair.

After applying early pressure and were denied on two occasions by the left upright, as well as good excellent glove work by Haiti's Kimberly Prince, United States inevitably broke the deadlock in the 24th minute through Mya Townes, who finished off a pass from Melanie Barcenas.

Kennedy Fuller then applied the finish tough to an Alexandra Pfeiffer cross in the 40th, to put United States 2-0 up at the break.

Fuller then scored her eighth goal of the tournament in the 47th with a smooth right-footed stroke into net, before Pfeiffer added her name to the scoresheet in the 59th, when she hauled in a long ball from Katie Scott.

Though up against it at 0-4 down, Haiti battled bravely and eventually pulled one back through striker Lourdjina Etienne, who converted her seventh goal of the tournament from the penalty spot in the 80th.

However, United States were far from done, and Kimmie Ascanio's hat-trick in a six-minute span, ensured the North Americans ended strongly. Her first came in the 83rd from dead centre of the 18-yard box, with the second coming two minutes later with an assist from Scott.

Ascanio completed the hat-trick in the 88th when she pounced on a rebound off the post and calmly tucked away a left-footed shot, to cap the win.

Mexico 2-1 Canada

Things were not as straightforward for Mexico, as they required an extra-time from Vanessa Aguilar to edge Canada in a lively encounter.

Mexico struck first courtesy of a 25th-minute right-footed strike from Carla Montes Frias from just outside the area.

The contest remained evenly poised from there as Canada responded strongly through Annabelle Chukwu, but were denied by Mexico's goalkeeper Camila Vazquez, who came up big with back-to-back saves in the 74th.

However, there was nothing Vazquez could do in the 75th when Chukwu unleashed a right-footed shot that bettered the custodian at her near post, to send the game into extra-time.

Mexico eventually found the winner in 101st minute when Aguilar followed up her initial blocked shot with a fine finish from an angle.

Caribbean representative Haiti had a positive start in their hunt to secure qualification to this year's FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, as they opened the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship with a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in Group A action in Toluca, Mexico, on Thursday.

Lourdjina Etienne scored both goals for the Haitians in the 45th and 60th minutes, while Daniela Ocampo (89th) pulled one back for Cost Rica.

This was the second meeting between the two nations at this stage of the tournament, the first coming back in 2010 when Costa Rica blanked their Haitian counterparts 2-0. However, Haiti, were in their element and returned the favour on this occasion.

They broke the deadlock in the waning moments of the first half on an excellent team goal in transition, as Pierreline Nazon found Desert Dominique, who then slotted a pass over to Etienne, who applied the perfect finish to put Haiti 1-0 up at the break.

Etienne got her second on the hour mark with a well-struck effort from just outside the 18-yard area that gave the keeper no chance at a save.

Costa Rica desperately sought a response and almost got one in the 75th, but Alondra Gonzalez’s shot was deflected wide.

The Las Ticas eventually pulled one back courtesy of Ocampo's firmly struck right-footer from a distance. But too little too late was the cry, as Haiti held firm defensively to pocket the three points.

With the win, Haiti sits second behind hosts Mexico on goal difference, after the latter blanked El Salvador 3-0 in their encounter.

Abril Fragoso (7th and 61st) and Dana Sandoval (57th) got the job done for the El Tricolor.

Mexico hit the ground running and opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Fragoso's sensational left-footed strike.

El Salvador had their moments in an attempt to pull level, but instead, the Mexicans doubled their lead when Sandoval fired home from just outside the area.

Fragoso then completed her brace a minute past the hour mark via from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, United States and Canada are scheduled to face Panama and Puerto Rico in Group B action on Friday.

After Group Stage round-robin play, between February 1-6, the two group winners and runners-up will advance to the Knockout Stage. The Knockout Stage will begin with the Semi-finals on February 9, followed by the third-place match and final on Sunday, February 11.

The two finalists and third-placed team will join host Dominican Republic as Concacaf's representatives at the 16-team Under-17 Women's World Cup later this year. This will be the first time Dominican Republic hosts a FIFA World Cup, and their first participation at this age level.