22.7.2009 - CAN 0:1 USA
Friendly match international amical
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| Location: | Charleston, SC |
| Stadium: | Blackbaud Stadium |
| Attendance: | 4041 |
| Kickoff: | 00:00 |
| Broadcast: | Rogers Sportsnet (CAN); Fox Soccer Channel (USA) |
| Match Tracker: | SCORE FINAL |
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| Canada: | WNT CAN |
| Opponent: | USA (USA) |
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Canada’s women’s national produced their best performance under Carolina Morace before falling 0:1 to USA in an international friendly match tonight in Charleston, SC. Canada held the hosts scoreless until the 89th minute when teenager Christine Nairn broke Canadian hearts as she scored her first international goal.
“In this match the mentality of the players was more in-line with what I want from them,” said Morace. “We defended well and put ourselves in a good position to attack. We had three excellent chances to score. With more experience as a team we will improve our attacking abilities. I am happy because I see the team improving game after game; this is the most important thing.”
Prior to kickoff, Canadian captain Christine Sinclair was recognized for tying the national record for appearances with 132. Sinclair tied all-time leader Andrea Neil, who presented Sinclair with flowers before kickoff. Neil is now an assistant coach with the national team under coach Carolina Morace.
“It’s outstanding for it to be Christine, said Neil about seeing her Canadian record matched. “I can’t think of a better person to pass the baton to. She is an outstanding person and I think the world of her. I expect her to take the benchmark to over 200 before she’s finished.”
Coach Morace made four changes to her starting lineup from the friendly three days earlier in Rochester, NY. Defenders Robyn Gayle and Marie-Eve Nault replaced injured players Brittany Timko (ankle) and Rhian Wilkinson (back); midfielder Carmelina Moscato and goalkeeper Erin McLeod, meanwhile, replaced Jodi-Ann Robinson and Karina LeBlanc in the starting lineup.
The match started off as a continuation Sunday’s game in Rochester, three days earlier. Canada was taking a strong defensive position, sitting deep in their half and riding the American pressure while looking to break on the counterattack.
Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod made a magnificent save on the first clear scoring opportunity in the 12th minute. McLeod made an instinctive diving save on the driving Lindsay Tarpley. On the ensuing cross, Shannon Boxx missed on a terrific chance as she fired the ball over the net.
Tarpley also had the second great opportunity as she found space at the box; her volley, however, bounced wide. In the 31st minute, Megan Rapinoe forced McLeod to make another terrific save following her drive from long distance.
As the half continued, the play looked more and more like the match just three days earlier: Canada was maintaining a strong defensive position, sitting deep in its half and riding the USA pressure while waiting to break on the counter attack.
As the half continued Canada grew in confidence and began to look dangerous on the counterattack. In the final stages of the first half Canada created three-straight shooting opportunities. In 36th minute Kara Lang placed a left footed shot wide after a quick Canadian build-up led to a half chance. Two minutes later, Sinclair showed her speed as she closed a five yard gap to reach a long through ball and drive a low shot on USA keeper Hope Solo. Jonelle Filigno counted the last of the three chances when she created space for herself only to mis-hit her shot weakly at the USA goal.
Canada made one change midway through the first half, replacing Gayle with youngster Chelsea Stewart. Canada would make four more changes throughout the second half: inserting Robinson for Kelly Parker, Shannon Woeller for Nault, Christina Julien for Filigno, and Alyssa Lagonia for Moscato.
Filigno had a great opportunity to score two minutes after the restart, firing over the bar after being set up by Sinclair.
USA came close to opening the scoring in the 52nd minute when a low cross evaded Abby Wambach who was streaking through the box and nearly curled in at the far post past a stranded McLeod. Shortly thereafter on a free kick from 20 yards out, USA was unable to beat the Canadian wall on a shot that deflected over the net.
In the 60th minute, Sinclair had a marvelous chance to open the scoring and notch her 100th career goal. Diana Matheson player her through the USA defence 40 yards out from goal; Sinclair raced in on goal and tried to place a shot low to Solo’s right, but the USA goalkeeper got down to make the save.
Despite Canada’s chances, it was not to be the Canada’s night. In the 89th minute as the match drew near its end, Nairn scored a scrappy goal to give USA the only goal of the game. USA quickly capitalized on a Canadian turnover and moved the ball forward down the Canadian right side. USA crossed the ball in from the right and McLeod got a hand on it; Nairn however, was in the right place from two yards out to tap the ball in.
“It was a disappointing way to finish the match but we are such a young program that this is an encouraging result,” said Sinclair following the match. “This is a result to build on. They had more of the ball but we were able to create chances, especially in the second half. On my chance I decided to shoot low and their keeper made a great stop. Looking back on my chance, I wish I had shot near post, but you can’t think about that.”
For the second-straight match, central defenders Candace Chapman and Emily Zurrer played exceptionally well. Goalkeeper McLeod was also excellent in what was her first international match of the year.
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