Canadian women open Group A with win

Canada got its 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier campaign off to a good start with a narrow victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday 29 October in Cancún, Mexico.

Despite dominating for much of the match, Canada struggled to break down a physical Trinidad and Tobago side. Melissa Tancredi scored the lone goal in the 63rd minute following an explosive end-to-end counterattacking move from the Canadians. For her part, Tancredi couldn’t be happier that the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers are being hosted in Mexico: she has scored in all five international matches she has played in Mexico.

The match kicked off in extremely humid conditions as late afternoon shadows stretched across the Estadio Beto Ávila. In the early stages, both teams showed the nerves that often accompany participation in major championships.

"We were very anxious, very tense," said national head coach Carolina Morace.

Canada had the first clear chance of the match in the fifth minute as Christine Sinclair displayed her excellent range of passing. A great through ball from the Canadian Captain found Tancredi behind the Trinidad defence but goalkeeper Kimika Forbes was quickly off her line to beat Tancredi to the ball. The ball ricocheted kindly for Belanger who had an empty goal to shoot at only to see her first time effort hit the side netting.

Canadian centre back Emily Zurrer was forced to leave the pitch for several minutes due to a severe gash on her forehead which required stitches. She returned wearing heavy bandaging on her head and bravely played on for the remainder of the contest.

Through the opening stages Canada was dominating proceedings and nearly made the breakthrough as Sinclair got an unmarked header on goal from a Canada corner kick. Unfortunately for Sinclair and Canada her powerful headed effort was straight at Forbes in the Trinidad goal.

Tancredi thought she had given Canada a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute but it was called back for offside.

Tancredi had the ball in the goal for a second time on the stroke of halftime but again it was disallowed. This time Sinclair was adjudged to have strayed offside in the build-up to the goal.

Canada entered the first half break pleased with its territorial domination but frustrated with its inability to convert all its possession into goals.

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first and Canada was on the attack quickly. Just three minutes after the restart Bélanger dug out an excellent cross for Sinclair who bravely challenged with Forbes in the Trinidad and Tobago goal, but her redirection went narrowly wide. Canadian fans held their collective breaths for a few moments as Sinclair stayed down following the clash, but she was quickly back up on her feet and into the play.

Canada had a dangerous looking opportunity on the hour mark as the ball pinged around the Trinidad penalty area and four Canadians fired shots at the Trinidad goal only to see them blocked.

Three minutes later Canada made the long awaited breakthrough and the quality of the goal made it worth the wait. A great counterattacking move from Canada started deep in its own half as a slick touch from Jonelle Filigno freed Matheson who quickly found Sinclair running at the Trinidad defence. Sinclair looked up and picked out Rhian Wilkinson charging forward from her right full back position. Wilkinson chipped a nice ball over the top into the path of Tancredi who calmly picked her spot and beat Forbes for the opening goal. The goal was just reward for Tancredi who had been one of the hardest working players on the night for Canada.

Second half substitute Jonelle Filigno had an excellent chance to extend the lead as she broke through free on goal but rolled her effort just wide of the goal in the 73rd minute.

Canada comfortably saw out the remainder of the match in the ascendancy as Karina LeBlanc was rarely tested in the Canadian goal. Trinidad and Tobago’s best player was right winger Ahkeela Mollon, a late addition to the Soca Princesses lineup from her club team in Sweden.

Coach Morace selected a 4-3-3 formation to start the match which featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Marie-Eve Nault, Emily Zurrer, Candace Chapman, and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back line, Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson and Sophie Schmidt in midfield, and Josée Bélanger, Melissa Tancredi, and Christine Sinclair leading in attack. Coach Morace made her first substitiution of the match in the 53rd minute as Bélanger was replaced by Jonelle Filigno. Canada made its second and third substitutions in quick succession as goal scorer Tancredi made way for Desiree Scott in the 73rd minute and Schmidt was replaced by Carmelina Moscato two minutes later.

Next up for Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, is Guyana on Sunday 31 October. Guyana and Mexico play in the second Group A match immediately following the Canada – Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night. Canada will wrap up Group A against Mexico on 2 November. All of Canada’s Group A matches are being played at the Estadio Beto Ávila in Cancún.