Canada opens FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 with valiant effort in a loss to Germany

Canada opened the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 with a valiant effort, but fell 1:2 to the host in a closely-fought match. Germany’s Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi scored for Germany before Christine Sinclair countered for Canada in the 82nd minute.

The opening match of the sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 73,680 fans at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Canada couldn’t get the equalizer despite the late pressure.

"We had a good first half and we had more possession than Germany," said Canadian coach Carolina Morace after the match. "The first match of the tournament is always very difficult and we knew that. I think the (spirit) that we showed was good.

"If Christine Sinclair was more lucky in the first half to score (on any early chance), then maybe we would be talking about another result."

Canada contained dangerous striker Birgit Prinz, but Garefrekes stepped up and was dangerous all evening. She headed home a cross to give Germany the lead in the 10th minute. Easily the tallest player on the pitch, Garefrekes used her 1.8-metre height to out-jump her opponent and convert the cross from Babett Peter.

Moments earlier before the goal, Garefrekes had forced Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod to make a diving hand save on a dangerous shot. Later in the evening, Garefrekes would have another glorious chance on which she failed to convert, hitting it high over the crossbar from within the penalty area.

Late in the first half, Germany barely kept onside to play Okoyino Da Mbabi in alone. Three Canadians chased her in hard pursuit, but the German sent the ball low and past McLeod.

Canada’s big chance in the first half came in the sixth minute. After some great work by Jonelle Filigno to dispossess the Germans, Diana Matheson made a great pass to Sinclair who went in on goal. Sinclair had her sights on goal, but struck the ball over the goal.

Later in the match, Sinclair received a direct elbow in the face, breaking her nose and pulling her off the pitch for a brief moment. No discipline was called on the infraction. She of course returned to field and set up her own late-game heroics.

Sinclair’s free kick strike from 25 yards out re-energized Canada. After being pulled down on one of her runs, the referee awarded the dangerous free kick. Sinclair made no hesitation, taking the kick herself to curl it over the defensive wall and into the top right corner of the goal.

Late in the match, a Robyn Gayle cross nearly led to an equalizing goal. Emily Zurrer slipped behind the German defence, but hit the one-time shot out of bounds.

Germany was dominant at times and could have added to its lead with a pair of shots that struck the crossbar. Alexandra Popp and Simone Laudehr were both unlucky in their strikes.

Canada’s starting lineup featured Erin McLeod in goal, Marie-Eve Nault at left back, Emily Zurrer and Candace Chapman at centre back, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, and Jonelle Filigno, Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Melissa Tancredi and Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Carolina Morace replaced Kyle with Kelly Parker (46th minute), Nault with Robyn Gayle (46′) and Tancredi with Brittany Timko (80′).

Germany’s starting XI featured Nadine Angerer in goal, Babett Peter at left back, Saskia Bartusiak and Annike Krahne at centre back, Linda Bresonik at right back, and Simone Laudehr, Melanie Behringer, Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, Kerstin Garefrekes, Kim Kulig and Birgit Prinz from the midfield up through the attack.

In the second half, coach Silvia Neid replaced Prinz with Alexandra Popp (56′), Okoyino Da Mbabi with Inka Grings (65′) and Behringer with Fatmire Bajramaj (71′).