Canada’s women’s football team remains undefeated in two matches at its first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Canada came away with a 1:1 draw against hosts China at the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
On this particular day, Canada was up against more than just the Chinese XI. Coach Even Pellerud’s team was also up against the 12th player – some 50,000-plus fans filled the stadium in China’s support.
“The crowd was fantastic,” said midfielder Sophie Schmidt. “The fans never stopped making noise. It was crazy and unbelievable at the same time. The game went back and forth, it was one of the hardest games of the year.”
Canada opened the scoring in the 34th minute after Kara Lang tipped the ball forward to captain Christine Sinclair. Sinclair accepted the pass and struck the left corner of the net for her 94th career goal.
“We’re playing really well together,” said Lang. “We’re really starting to gel.”
Less than three minutes later, China connected on its first good chance to draw even at one apiece. Xu Yuan pulled and evaded Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod wide out of her net and then fired a shot towards the empty net. Defender Randee Hermus made it back to the line, but her clearing came just inches after the ball crossed the line.
Despite losing its lead, Canada was unrelenting in its pursuit of goal. Just moments after Xu scored, Rhian Wilkinson went the other way and hit the crossbar from 20 yards out. A few minutes later, Hermus came close as she fired a shot just over the net.
In the 58th minute, Diana Matheson had an excellent chance as the ball came to her in the box despite defenders on either side. She had little time, but was unable to hit the target. A minute later, it was Lang’s turn to hit the right post.
With few chances to score in the first 75 minutes, China made some moves in the last 15 minutes. In the 79th minute, Xu Yuan fired a shot of the Canadian crossbar. In the ensuing minute, Bi Yan fired a shot that had McLeod diving to her left to preserve the score.
“We had them and then they would have us,” said Schmidt. “Your legs started to get heavy, but the adrenaline was going, the crowd was making noise. It’s the Olympics, you just push through anything that comes in the way.”
“We knew that playing China would be huge – we had to come out hard and we did,” said Candace Chapman, playing in her 60th international match. “It was a great atmosphere today. It was exciting, but we are going to just take every game as it comes.”
Brittany Timko, one of three substitutes in the second half, made her 87th appearance, moving into sixth place on the all-time list. Martina Franko, meanwhile, became the 17th Canadian women’s player to reach 50 caps.
Coach Pellerud started 10 of the same 11 players from the first match against Argentina, only leaving out injured striker Melissa Tancredi. Lang moved up to forward while Wilkinson started in the midfield and Hermus stepped in at defence. Canada dominated with 12 shots on goal against China’s four. Seven of those shots came in the first half.
Today was Canada’s second match against China in an official FIFA competition. Five years ago, Canada won 1:0 over China in the quarter-final at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003.
With two matches in the book at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, Canada will now head back to Beijing to prepare for its third match of the competition. Canada will face Sweden at the Workers’ Stadium on 12 August (19.45 local time, 07.45 ET, 04.45 PT).
Canadian Lineup
Erin McLeod, Randee Hermus, Martina Franko, Candace Chapman, Emily Zurrer, Rhian Wilkinson, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Clare Rustad, Kara Lang, Christine Sinclair, Christine Sinclair,
Subsititutes
Brittany Timko 64 (Randee Hermus) 64′
Jodi-Ann Robinson (Diana Matheson) 74′
Jonelle Filigno (Kara Lang) 90′
Scorers
CAN … Christine Sinclair 34′
CHI … Xu Yuan 36′
No comments yet.