Christine Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in the 47th minute - after assisting on another - to lift a young Canada team past Japan, 3-1, in Group C play. The Canadians advance to the quarterfinals, where they'll play the Group D winner, which will be determined today when China and Russia square off in Portland, Ore.

Canada answered in the 35th minute, when Sinclair chipped a ball over the Japanese defense. Forward Christine Latham ran onto the pass and drove a left-footed poke into the upper-left corner. Immediately after the half, Sinclair used her 5-foot-9 frame to head home a corner kick from Brittany Timko for a 2-1 advantage.

Canadian defender Isabelle Morneau, who had shoulder surgery and re-injured it prior to the Algarve Cup, made her first start in a year. Morneau's last start was Sept. 28, 2002, against Australia, a game in which she scored both goals in a 2-0 win. . . .