Wisconsin Soccer Central

Hapoel Haifa forward Tosaint Ricketts (UW-Green Bay) played all 90 minutes as Canada opened 2018 World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 victory over host Dominica in the first leg of a second-round series Thursday night in Roseau.

Ricketts, 27, was a big part of the attack for the Canadians, who take the two-goal lead into the second leg of the series Tuesday night at BMO Field in Toronto.

The winner advances to the third round of qualifying; the U.S., Mexico and the region's other top teams will enter the competition in the fourth round.

Orlando City SC's Cyle Larin scored in the 5th minute and drew a penalty kick in the 64th that was coverted by Russell Teibert of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Dominica, an island in the Caribbean with a population of 72,000, was No. 168 out of the 209 teams in this month's FIFA World Rankings. Canada is ranked 109th.

On Twitter: @TosaintRicketts

• Lauren Sesselmann (Green Bay Notre Dame) started at center back as host Canada played a 0-0 draw with New Zealand in a Women's World Cup match Thursday night in Edmonton. Sesselmann played 68 minutes before being replaced by Carmelina Moscato, a former University of Wisconsin assistant coach. The Canadians (1-0-1) lead Group A with four points heading into their group finale against the Netherlands (1-1-0) on Monday in Montreal. On Twitter: @lsesselmann
• Incoming UW freshman Sam Brotherton and host New Zealand were eliminated from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with a 2-1 loss to Portugal on Thursday night in Hamilton. Gelson Martins scored the game winner in the 87th minute with an impressive finish, flicking a shot with the outside of his left foot from the right side 20 yards out that beat the goalkeeper just inside the left post. The 18-year-old Brotherton logged all 360 minutes at center back during the tournament for the Junior All Whites, who advanced to the knockout round for the first time.