Canada cruises to victory over Guyana 8-0 in Women’s Soccer

Canada’s cruised to its second consecutive win at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers with a comfortable victory over Guyana on Sunday 31 October at the Estadio Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico.

Playing on Hallowe’en, Canada’s performance was scary good on the night. Captain Christine Sinclair led the Canadian attack scoring four goals en route to an 8:0 victory over the inexperienced Guyana side. Jonelle Filigno added a pair of goals while Christina Julien and Kara Lang each scored a goal, in a second consecutive dominant Canadian performance. Knowing that goal differential could play a role in final Group A standings, Canada attacked relentlessly throughout the match.

As expected, Canada dominated the early proceedings, putting the Guyana defence under heavy pressure from the opening whistle. The Canadians won a handful of corner kicks within the first 10 minutes as they attacked in waves. Catherine Kobelka in the Guyana goal was living a charmed life as she was narrowly keeping the Canadian’s at bay.

Kobelka and the Guyana defence finally cracked in the 15th minute as forward Christina Julien scored the opening goal of the match with a fine individual effort. The CONCACAF debutant controlled a throw-in, turned her defender at the top of the penalty area, and unleashed an accurate low left footed strike into the bottom right corner of the Guyana goal.

Canadian Captain Sinclair had looked dangerous every time she touched the ball and her goal from a corner kick in the 34th minute was just reward for her positive start. It was Sinclair who had broken through the Guyana defence to earn the corner as Kobelka dove at Sinclair’s feet to stop the charge. On the resulting corner Sinclair was the first to react to a loose ball and her low drive found the back of the goal to double the Canadian advantage.

Kara Lang, recently returning to international competition following a long lay-off due to injury, was frequently in positive attacking positions and had chances to extend Canada’s lead before half time but she wasn’t able to find the required precision to hit the back of the goal.

Canada came out on fire to start the second half and scored twice inside the first five minutes to truly put the match out of reach.

Barely sixty seconds after the restart Lang out-worked her defender in the corner of the penalty area and laid a perfect pass into the path of substitute Jonelle Filigno who easily side footed into the goal to stretch the Canadian lead to three goals.

Canada was in the mood for more goals and five minutes later Sinclair showed her world class technique as she notched her second goal of the match.

Sinclair’s club and international teammate Candace Chapman hit a low cross into the penalty area which Sinclair sublimely flicked into the goal from 12 yards out.

13 minutes later Sinclair completed her hat trick as she received a lovely through ball from Filigno and easily placed her shot inside the far post past the on-rushing goalkeeper.

The unstoppable Sinclair notched her fourth and Canada’s sixth in the 74th minute with a wonderful turn and strike from 25 yards out. The goal was the 106th of Sinclair’s international career, passing the 105 international goals scored by her coach Carolina Morace.

Filigno added her second of the match in the 75th as Sinclair turned provider by unselfishly passing across goal when in alone, giving Canada a 7-0 lead. Lang completed the scoring with a goal in 90th minute which was just reward for her tireless effort and running throughout the match.

Carolina Morace made six changes from the line-up that defeated Trinidad and Tobago in Canada’s opening match two days. Stephanie Labbé started in goal, Chelsea Stewart, Candace Chapman, Sophie Schmidt, Rhian Wilkinson were right to left in defence, Desiree Scott, Carmelina Moscato, and Kaylyn Kyle made up the three player midfield, Christina Julien, Kara Lang, and Christine Sinclair started at forward. For Labbé, Stewart, and Julien the start marked their first-ever competitive appearance for Canada at a CONCACAF or FIFA event. Scott, who made her first appearance of the bench in Canada’s last match, earned her first start at this level. Morace was forced into a first half substitution as goal scorer Julien had to come off after feeling unwell in the 39th minute. Jonelle Filigno replaced her in the Canadian attack. Right back Wilkinson was replaced by Robyn Gayle at half time.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will now prepare for its final Group A match against Mexico on Tuesday 2 November. Depending on the result in the Mexico – Trinidad and Tobago match immediately following Canada’s victory, Tuesday’s match could be a showdown for first place in Group A. All of Canada’s matches can be seen live on CBC Bold and CBCsports.ca. In additional all matches played at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers can be seen live online at CONCACAF.com