Canada’s women’s U-20 team won 3:1 over host Guatemala today in its final group match of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. With the win, Canada finished the group with a perfect nine points and qualified for the semi-final stage which will be played in four days. Canada is just one win away from qualifying for a fifth-consecutive FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“Our players did what was asked of them,” said national coach Carolina Morace. “I am happy that after three games we have improved every match.”
Adriana Leon, Vanessa Legault-Cordisco and Bryanna McCarthy all scored for Canada while Shannon Brooks countered for Guatemala .
Both sides started strong as they pressed for the opening goal. Guatemala managed a couple of shots in the first 10 minutes, but eventually Canada ’s speed started to penetrate up top with Leon making her runs. Leon missed on a first chance, but then struck for goal in the 14th minute to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Leon ran the ball into the box and fired it past the Guatemala goalkeeper Stephani Castellon.
Guatemala didn’t fall back, but they were soon in trouble again after fouling Chloé Malette in the box. The foul was committed right in the line of view of referee Shane DeSilva. Canada ’s Legault-Cordisco fired the penalty into the right side of the net for a 2-0 Canadian lead.
Then in the 38th minute, McCarthy out-muscled the Guatemalan defender on the ball before stepping in to score Canada ’s third goal of the half. McCarthy first beat Ana Marrroquin and then beat Brooks before firing her shot on goal. The goal wrapped up Canada ’s best 45 minutes to date in the tournament.
In the second half, coach Morace made three changes to rest some of her key players. In the 48th and 49th minutes, Leon and McCarthy were replaced by Rachel Lamarre and Rehani Murani. Then in the 68th minute, Lexi Marton was replaced by Bahar Sansar.
In between the substitutions, Guatemala brought the crowd to its feet with a goal against Canada . Guatemala created good pressure and was eventually rewarded with the Brooks goal in the 55th minute of play.
“It was a pity that we gave up the one goal, but it was just a moment in which we lost concentration,” said coach Morace.
Guatemala did create more chances late in the game, but the Canada defence held its ground. The win improved Canada ’s all-time record at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship to 17 wins and one loss, the best of any nation at this competition. Canada has won eight straight games at this level.
For the second game in a row, Morace switched her lineup to rest some players. The starting XI featured Cynthia Leblanc in goal, Molly Allen, Shannon Woeller, Marton and Legault-Cordisco on defence, Julie Casselman, Chelsea Stewart, Gina Pacheco and McCarthy at midfield, and Malette and Leon up front.
Leon scored her second goal of the tournament while both Legault-Cordisco and McCarthy scored their first international goals.
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