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.