Canada Advances To U17 World Cup
Canada qualifies for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Canada won 5-3 on kicks from the penalty mark over CONCACAF rival USA to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010. The qualification was secured in the semi-final stage of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship following a 0:0 draw with USA after 120 minutes. Canada then scored on all five of its kicks from the penalty mark to advance to the confederation final and qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
It marks the second-straight time that Canada has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It also marks the first time that USA has been stopped from qualifying for the FIFA women’s competition at any level.
“I am happy for us to have qualified for the World Cup, we are all ecstatic,” said head coach Bryan Rosenfeld.
Canada’s five scorers from the penalty mark were Alison Clarke, Diamond Simpson, Yazmin Ongtengco, Nicole Setterlund and Chantale Campbell. USA ’s Morgan Brian, Abigail Dahlkemper and Havana Solaun all scored on their opportunities, but third shooter Clarissa Wedemeyer missed on her chance.
For the semi-final stage of the competition, Canada unveiled a brand new formation and lineup to oppose the heavily-favoured USA. The starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund from left to right along the back, debutan Kinley McNicoll and recovered Ally Courtnall as the left and right backs, Diamond Simpson, Nour Ghoneim and Chantal Campbell from left to right in the midfield, and Haillie Price and Haisha Cantave up front.
“Our game plan going into the match was to contain them as much we could,” said Rosenfeld. “We focused on keeping their flank play in check and not letting them create chances up the middle. We wanted to catch them on a break or a counter attack. We created opportunities to score this way in the match. USA is an excellent team to have overcome, its unfortunate that such a quality team will not be going to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”
Canada went closest to opening the scoring in an entertaining first half. The opening 20 minutes in particular were played at a torrid pace as both teams tried to score the all-important opening goal.
The USA, who had dominated its three group matches at the competition, were put on alert that Canada offered a different challenge inside the opening five minutes. Canada’s forwards ran at the USA defenders and put them under pressure at all times.
USA did register the first clear chance on goal as Canadian goalkeeper D’Angelo was caught off her line following a blocked clearance attempt. Fortunately for Canada, the Canadian defence reacted well and blocked two goal-bound attempts as D’Angleo scampered back into her goal.
Canada had the best chance of the first half, hitting the crossbar in the 20th minute. Price made a great run in the box and had a good shot stopped by USA goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin. The rebound however, bounced off a defender and onto the crossbar before Heaberlin could cover it just in front of the goal line.
Clear scoring chances were at a premium in the second half as both teams presented well organized defensive formations. USA carried the majority of the possession throughout the half but was unable to break Canada ‘s defensive unit which was expertly marshaled by captain Setterlund.
Simpson was called upon to make a vital intervention in the 51st minute to knock the ball away from an USA attacker who was in an excellent scoring position.
In the 65th minute a long diagonal cross found USA forward Smith alone in the Canadian box but she failed to capitalize, sending her header wide of the goal.
Canada fashioned the best chance of match for either side in the 81st minute. A series of quick passes found Beaulne at the edge of the USA penalty area and after taking a touch to create space she rolled the ball through the USA defence to the on-rushing McNicoll. McNicoll hit a hard low shot which was stopped by Heaberlin.
The McNicoll chance was as close as either side would come to winning the match in regular time as the match moved into extra time.
USA came out flying to start the first period of extra time. In the 93rd minute, it had its best chance of the match. USA forward Smith escaped the Canadian defence for a breakaway from just inside Canada ‘s half. Smith raced in on goal, but goalkeeper D’Angelo was up to the task as she got an arm to Smith’s low shot.
Much of the remainder of the two extra time periods passed without incident. A brief burst of end-to-end action just before the end of the second period of extra time came to nothing and the match headed to kicks from the penalty mark.
Canada has now qualified for both FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups. Two years ago, it reached the quarter-final stage of New Zealand 2008 while USA won a silver medal. This time, Canada returns with hopes of improving on that 7th place finish at Trinidad and Tobago 2010. Before it does, however, it will play in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship final this Saturday 20 March.
Penalty Summary
CAN Clarke (goal), Simpson (goal), Ongtengco (goal), Setturlund (goal), Campbell (goal)
USA Brian (goal), Dahlkemper (goal), Wedemeyer (high), Solaun (goal)
CANADA Lineup
18-Sabrina D’Angelo; 5-Haillie Price (19-Abigail Raymer, 53), 6-Yazmin Ongtengco, 11-Alison Clarke, 17-Alexandra Courtnall (3-Sabrina Hemond, 87); 4-Chantal Campbell, 12-Nicole Sutterlund (Capt), 13-Kinley McNicoll; 8-Diamond Simpson, 10-Nour Ghoneim, 16-Haisha Cantave (9-Caroline Beaulne, 53)
Subs not used: 1-Rachel Beanlands, 7-Kylie Davis, 15-Shannen Jainudeen, 20-Zakia McIntosh
Not Eligible: 2-Sophie Therien, 14-Katherine Caverly,
Head coach: Bryan Rosenfield
USA Lineup
1-Bryane Heaberlin; 6-Olivia Brannon, 3-Abby Dahlkemper (Capt.), 2-Jaelene Hinkle; 5-Kaili Torres (16-Cari Roccaro, 87), 11-Clarissa Wedemeyer, 10-Morgan Brian, 8-Kaysie Clark, 7-Alex Doll; 12-Taylor Smith (25-Ashley Spivey, 111), 13-Lindsey Horan (9-Havana Solaun, 84)
Subs not used: 4-Laura Liedle, 14-Cassie Pecht, 15-Isabel Farrell, 18-Abby Smith
Not Eligible: 19-Jennifer Gonzalez, 24-Caroline Stanley
Head Coach: Kazbek Tambi
Statistical Summary USA/CAN
Shots: 13/6
Shots on Goal: 7/4
Saves: 4/7
Corner Kicks: 5/3
Fouls: 10/10
Offside: 4/0
