Canada clinches spot in Cyprus Women’s Cup final
Canada’s women’s national team scored early and defended strong to earn a 1:0 victory over defending champion England at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup. Christina Julien’s goal in the ninth minute was enough to propel Canada into the March 3 final of tournament. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc posted the clean sheet.
“I am very pleased as we have beaten one of the best teams in the world,” said head coach Carolina Morace. “We prepared well for this match. I asked the players to play with passion and they did.”
Both teams were clearly up for the match as the opening exchanges featured high-tempo action at both ends of the field, yet few clear chances. Canada had the added difficulty of playing into the wind to open the match, which made life particularly difficult for the Canadian back line.
Attacking against the wind, Canada scored from the first clear chance in the match. Canadian midfielder Kelly Parker created a turnover in midfield and started a swift Canadian counter-attack down the right side. A long, searching cross was blocked before it could reach the path of Jodi-Ann Robinson blazing down the left wing, but the England clearance bounced across the penalty area where Julien met it with a sweetly-struck drive into the bottom left corner of the goal. England’s goalkeeper Karen Bardsley had no chance on the play.
For Julien the goal was her second in two games at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup, a competition where she has excelled. Julien’s goal was the third of her international career, all of which have come at the Cyprus Women’s Cup.
England responded strongly to going down a goal. Just two minutes later, Rachel Yankey smashed a shot over the Canadian cross bar from 24 yards out. The strong wind at England’s back seemed to drive the team forward. In the 21st minute, Yankey was in close again, but her shot from a tight angle was stopped by LeBlanc. Two minutes later, Fara Williams’ dangerous free kick sailed over the bar.
After surviving the initial English response, Canada regained composure. Much of Canada ’s attacking threat was coming from the right side where Parker, Rhian Wilkinson and Christine Sinclair were working hard to win the ball and maintain possession. In the 35th minute, the trio created space for Sinclair at the top of the England penalty area. Her low shot, however, was easily scooped up by England’s Bardsley.
Canada was the happier of the two teams to hear the halftime whistle and turn around to play with the wind.
England came out of the gates quickly in the second half and just two minutes after the restart LeBlanc needed to be quick off her line to smother a loose ball in the Canadian penalty area with England forwards lurking nearby.
A few minutes later Canada had a chance to double their lead as a great cross field ball from Diana Matheson found Robinson in space down the right. Robinson received the ball and drove forward into the England penalty area. Robinosn cut back and fed Julien at the top of box, but her bouncing shot was stopped by England’s Bardsley.
England was enjoying its best period of the game inside the first ten minutes of the second half. They earned four corners within a five minute time frame, but were unable to translate the set plays into scoring opportunities.
In the 60th minute substitute Emily Westwood had the best chance of the match for England but she was unable to direct her header on goal after an inch-perfect cross from the right found her unmarked at Canada’s back post.
England enjoyed the greater possession in the second half, but Canada ‘s defence frustrated the opposing attackers at every turn. Late in the match, Sinclair had an excellent opportunity to put the game away when played in on a breakaway but her shot was saved by England ‘s Bardsley.
In added time, England’s Duni Susi fired a shot that hit the side netting. It was to be England’s last chance before the final whistle.
“It was a huge result beating a power team (like England ),” said Canadian captain Christine Sinclair. “I think the match was a perfect measuring stick for us. We are getting better and we have qualified for the Cyprus Women’s Cup final. We are now one step closer to our goal of winning the tournament.”
Morace’s starting XI featured Karina LeBlanc, Marie-Eve Nault, Emily Zurrer, Candace Chapman, Rhian Wilkinson, Kelly Parker, Carmelina Moscato, Diana Matheson, Christina Julien, Jodi-Ann Robinson and Christine Sinclair. Coach Morace’s three substitutions were Desiree Scott for Robinson in the 65th minute, Cindy Walsh for Candace Chapman in the 71st minute, and Sari Raber for Julien in the 78th minute.
The Canada-England match was played in windy conditions. The match had originally been scheduled for Friday 26 February, but was rescheduled to Saturday because of the weather. Canada has back-to-back wins at this year’s competition.
“We have improved but we need to continue to improve with each match,” said Morace.
Canada’s next match at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup is Monday March 1 against South Africa.
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