Canada, 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup Champions

Canada’s women’s national team won the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup following a 1:0 victory over New Zealand. Canada finished first in the eight-team competition following the team’s fourth-straight victory at the championship. Canada won the final over New Zealand on the strength of a Diana Matheson goal in the 70th minute.

Canada’s all-time record at the Cyprus Women’s Cup is now nine wins, one loss and one draw. Canada previously finished second in 2009 and first in 2008.

“It feels great to win this tournament,” said Carolina Morace. “We may not have played as freely as we would have liked in the first half, but we played some very good football in the second half. New Zealand was very physical, but we were the better team in all phases of the match.”

For the final, coach Morace’s starting XI featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at left back, Candace Chapman and Emily Zurrer at centre back, Marie-Eve Nault at right back, Diana Matheson at left midfield, Carmelina Moscato at centre midfield, Kelly Parker at right midfield, and the trio of Jodi-Ann Robinson, Christina Julien and Christine Sinclair up front.

As Canada had qualified for the final after just two matches, much of Canada’s lineup had rested two days earlier in the final group match against South Africa. Still, Canada’s lineup was slow to find its feet in the first 15 minutes. The battle in the midfield was especially frantic as both teams struggled to maintain possession.

New Zealand then fashioned the first opportunity after a soft foul was called against Wilkinson at the edge of the Canadian penalty area. The resulting free kick was blasted high over LeBlanc’s bar.

As the first half progressed, Canada started to find its feet. In particular, Parker was flying down the right and was creating chances for the Canadian attack. Then in the 28th minute, Sinclair nearly broke through, but was tackled before she could get in alone on the goalkeeper.

In the 31st minute, a trio of short Canadian corners nearly broke the deadlock. Parker, Wilkinson and Matheson combined to good effect as Sinclair, Moscato and Julien all narrowly missed as a result of the corner kicks.

On one final Canadian chance in the first half, Sinclair fired a 25-yard half volley, but the shot bounced kindly in the goalkeeper’s hand.

As one final note to the first half, goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc received a caution in the 21st minute for handling the ball just outside the penalty area. It was Canada’s first caution in three matches.

In the second half, Canada came out strong, pushing New Zealand deep in its own half right from the whistle. Within five minutes, Canada was almost up on the board. In the 49th minute, Parker crossed the ball to Robinson who unleashed a vicious first-time shot that hit a defender on its way to the goal. Julien was the first to react, but her shot also hit a defender.

In the 62nd minute, Canada broke forward with a four-on-three opportunity, but Matheson’s heavy shot from distance was stopped by the New Zealand goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Canada again built its attack as Sinclair fired a cross to Julien, but the Julien shot went back across the goal and into the goalkeeper’s hands.

In the 66th minute, coach Morace made her first change as she replaced Robinson with midfielder Desiree Scott. Less than five minutes later, Canada took the 1-0 lead with the Matheson goal from distance.

It was a moment of brilliance as Matheson fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the goal from outside the New Zealand penalty area. The New Zealand goalkeeper did not have a chance to move before the ball was in the net.

Canada was utterly dominant in those first 25 minutes of the second half. With the lead, Canada dropped back and changed its formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2. As for Canadian goalkeeper LeBlanc, she was only finally called upon to touch the ball for the first time in the second half in the 71st minute.

Canada defended well for the rest of the way as New Zealand seemed to tire. Canada kept strong and did not allow New Zealand to threaten. In the 90th minute, Morace made her second and final substitution of the final as she replaced Julien with midfielder Sari Raber.

Canada celebrated the final whistle as 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup champions. After the game, the team was presented with the championship trophy.

Win Three At Cyprus Cup 2010

Canada defeats South Africa at 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup
Canada’s women’s national team won 2:1 over South Africa today in the third and final group match at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup. Noko Matlou scored first for South Africa , but then Kendra Flock and Christina Julien reversed the lead with goals in the second half. Substitute Christine Sinclair set up both goals as Canada won its fourth-straight match of the 2010 season.

With first place in the group already secured, Canada made several changes to its starting XI. Coach Morace featured Erin McLeod in goal, Robyn Gayle at right back, Myriam Bouchard and Cindy Walsh at centre backs, Marie-Eve Nault at left back, Jodi-Ann Robinson at right midfield, Laura Chénard and Sari Raber at centre midfield, Caley Miskimmin at left midfield, and Kendra Flock and Christina Julien at forward. McLeod wore the captain’s armband. Bouchard, Chénard and Miksimmin were all making their national debuts; Scott and Flock were cracking the starting XI for the first time.

“The match today was played in a great atmosphere as both teams had nothing to lose,” said Canadian head coach Carolina Morace. “For us, having already qualified was a great scenario as players who haven’t seen much action in the tournament were able to play. I thought these players played well. In the second half when we added our more experienced players the match changed.”

Canada started quickly and nearly had the ball in the back of the net within the first minute. Chénard rose highest to meet an early Canadian corner kick, but her headed effort was well caught by the South African goalkeeper.

In the eighth minute Robinson broke down the right wing and centered for an open Flock in the South African box. Flock did well to receive the pass, but her low effort bounced wide of the goal.

In the 20th minute, it was South Africa’s turn as the team attacked with a sweeping move that started deep in its own half. A series of short passes brought South Africa to the top of Canada ’s box, but forward Matlou could not supply the finish as her first-time shot flew over the bar.

Five minutes later Canadian goalkeeper McLeod was called into action. South Africa caught the Canadian defence napping with a quickly-taken free kick. Midfielder Hlengiwe Modiko hit a hard rising drive that McLeod dove to catch at full stretch.

Canada made two planned changes in the 32nd minute as Morace rotated her regular starters to give them rest ahead of the Cyprus Women’s Cup final in two days time. Robinson and Nault were replaced by Julien and Wilkinson.

Neither team was able to create any further clear chances until a flurry of activity late in the first half.

First, Wilkinson hit Miskimmin in full stride with an excellent diagonal ball across the field. Miskimmin took two touches down the right side and hit an inch-perfect cross to an onrushing Julien. The Canadian forward hit the waist-high volley with her right foot, but the bullet shot blazed a foot over the bar.

Just two minutes later, South Africa took the lead in added time. Forward Maltou collected a loose ball at the top of the Canadian box and rode several tackles before toe poking her shot beyond a charging McLeod. South Africa had the 1-0 lead.

Before the start of the second half, Canada made a pair of substitutions and changed its formation. Veterans Sinclair and Diana Matheson replaced Miskimmin and Gayle. Canada ’s formation changed from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with Flock, Sinclair, and Julien at the top of the Canadian attack.

Canada immediately went on the attack after the second half restart as Sinclair wasted little time in making her mark on the match. Fellow substitute Julien played a perfectly, weighted through ball into Sinclair’s path inside the South African penalty area. Sinclair, however, could only hit the side of the goal from 12 yards out.

Canada’s substitutions and change in formation was proving too much for South Africa . Finally in the 54th minute, Canada equalised. The impressive Sinclair found Flock behind the South African defence and Flock made no mistake rolling the ball into the goal with a defender hanging on her back. It was Flock’s first international goal in just her second appearance for Canada.

Two minutes later, Canada could have had a second if not for the acrobatics of the South African goalkeeper. Sinclair again worked space before unleashing a rocket of a shot that was palmed away by the goalkeeper. The ensuing corner kick found Julien at the back post, but her driven shot was blocked by the defenders.

Canadian centre back Bouchard was shown a yellow card in the 63rd minute after being forced to take down Maltou on a rare South African attack in the second half. The resulting free kick caused no danger.

Morace made her last change of the afternoon as Chénard came out of the match to be replaced by Moscato in the 65th minute. Ten minutes later, Canada took that decisive 2-1 lead with a goal from Julien.

Matheson moved the ball through the South African back line to Sinclair who gathered the ball, looked up, and picked out an unmarked Julien at the far post. Julien duly dispatched the ball into the empty goal. For Julien, it was her third straight match with a goal at the Cyprus Women’s Cup.

All three of Canada’s forwards (Sinclair, Julien, and Flock) had further opportunities to score. Canada continued to attack the South African goal, but no more goals would be needed on this day. South Africa did try to mount a late attack, but to no threat to McLeod.

Canada has won three-straight games at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup. Canada has won all four of its international games in 2010.