Canada women draw Mexico in final game on home soil before Paris Olympics
TORONTO — Canada didn’t get the win however Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Mexico supplied coach Bev Priestman with loads of meals for thought forward of naming her Olympic roster.
“Some players have really come forward either in the last six to nine months or you could argue in the last couple of games,” Priestman stated. “Am I clear? No manner. But what I’d say is a few gamers have positively put their finest foot ahead.
“I’ve just said to the group in the locker room they’ve made my life so so difficult. And that’s a credit to them. They’ve handled themselves with real class in a time that’s difficult.”
Priestman now has to distil her squad into an 18-player Olympic roster with 4 alternates.
While groups have till July 3 to call their rosters, Priestman has stated she expects to announce her roster by June 30, so everybody is aware of what’s what when the group heads to Europe the place it’ll play its remaining warm-ups in the course of the July 8-16 FIFA worldwide window simply earlier than the Olympic event.
Tuesday’s return leg of the “Summer Send-Off Series” marked the Canadian girls’s remaining sport on house soil.
The Canadians blanked Mexico 2-0 on Saturday in Montreal in a sport the place the house aspect took its time reaching high gear.
Kadeisha Buchanan opened the scoring Tuesday for ninth-ranked Canada. Jacqueline Ovalle replied for No. 31 Mexico, which is ranked third in CONCACAF after Canada and the fourth-ranked Americans.
Canada got here into Tuesday’s contest 23-2-3 all-time in opposition to Mexico. But this Mexican aspect confirmed character in hanging on to earn the tie.
There is figure to be carried out in ending off an opponent. But Canada is 10-1-4 since final yr’s World Cup, albeit with two of these ties turning into penalty shootout losses.
“Tournaments are won in being a hard team to beat,” stated Priestman.
Canada managed the sport from the get-go Tuesday, with the sensation a aim was coming quickly. But the ultimate move usually didn’t match the buildup and it was scoreless on the half regardless of 62 per cent ball possession.
The Canadians got here out with function within the second half and the breakthrough got here within the forty eighth minute with Buchanan scoring on a looping header off a Shelina Zadorsky cross.
It was a sixth aim in 149 appearances for the imposing Chelsea centre again.
Mexico replied within the seventieth minute with Ovalle beating Jade Rose after which goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo with a spectacular swerving shot from distance. The tying aim added drama to the ultimate 20 minutes.
Canada appealed for a penalty within the 77th minute when Olivia Smith went down within the field however Costa Rican referee Marianela Cruz was unmoved.
There was a nasty second late within the sport when Mexico’s Karen Luna bodied Jordyn Huitema, who didn’t have the ball, to the bottom in entrance of the Canadian bench. Luna was booked on the play however deserved to see pink.
Mexican coach Pedro Lopez, whereas saying he was watching one thing else on the sphere on the time, apologized for the foul.
Priestman made 5 modifications for Tuesday’s rematch with D’Angelo, defender Zadorsky, midfielder Simi Awujo and forwards Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens slotting into the beginning 11.
Awujo, a 20-year-old who performs collegiate soccer for USC, took benefit of the beginning with a bodily efficiency, leaving Mexicans in her wake whereas displaying a eager passing eye. She has absolutely performed her manner onto the Olympic roster.
Wingback Jayde Riviere, defender Jade Rose and ahead Janine Beckie, all roster certainties, additionally impressed.
The Montreal lineup was nearer to what one would count on at subsequent month’s Paris Olympics. Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, defender Vanessa Gilles, midfielder Julia Grosso and forwards Adriana Leon and Olivia Smith dropped to the bench Tuesday.
Sheridan is the group’s No. 1 ‘keeper whereas Gilles is the linchpin in defence. Leon has turn into Canada’s high striker, with 40 objectives to her title. Grosso has served as captain Jessie Fleming’s midfield associate and Smith is an distinctive 19-year-old expertise in a position to play each midfielder and ahead.
Tuesday’s sport drew an enthusiastic introduced crowd of 18,805, which included a small however loud Mexican contingent, on a heat night time at BMO Field.
The Canadian girls open defence of their Olympic title on July 25 in opposition to No. 26 New Zealand in Saint-Etienne earlier than finishing Group A play in opposition to No. 5 France on July 28 in Saint-Etienne and No. 25 Colombia on July 31 in Nice.
Priestman is ready on the well being of some gamers with midfielder Quinn (knee) and defender/wingback Sydney Collins (fractured ankle) not at this camp.
Tuesday’s sport was designated as a Pride Match with the Canadian gamers carrying a particular package with Pride-themed numbers that weren’t that particular when it got here to studying them from distance. Zadorsky, in the meantime, was honoured earlier than the sport on the event of her a centesimal cap.
