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TEAM CANADA:

VICTOIRE!! CANADA DEFEATS LES BLEUES 1 - 0 IN ROUEN IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

27th August 2006

A strong and determined Canadian Women’s National Team defeated France 1-0 on Saturday 26th August 2006. Playing their third International Match in seven days, the eleventh ranked Canadian side faced off against fourth ranked France for part one of a two game series. Canada defeated "Les Bleues" 1 - 0 at Rouen's Diochon stadium. The Canadians played well, especially the defence, and they deserved their win.

In front of a crowd of 1, 200 and in cloudy, windy conditions, the Canadians stuck to their game plan on a good, firm grass surface. Canada began well and set up camp in the French half, and a cross on the 8 minute mark from Rhian Wilkinson on the right, threatened the front of the goal. France cleared desperately from in front. Then, a Canadian shot led to a corner conceded by goalkeeper Deville in the 26th minutes. Later, Deville had to make a good diving stop on a ball heading for Walsh at 34 minutes. The Canadians finally found a way through in the 43rd minute, when midfielder Diana Matheson sent forward Christine Sinclair on a one-on-one encounter against French goalkeeper Celine Deville. Sinclair came on top putting a low ball through the goalkeeper's legs to score. Just before half time, the French had a bad scare when Deville let a ball escape her, but the danger was avoided.

The second half saw France more in the game. However, they still had to weather an early storm of attack from the Canadians. At 47 minutes, Sinclair forced Deville into giving up a corner and the defence had some problems. Two minutes later, Canada should have been awarded a penalty. Then, at 57 minutes a tentative lob from Rhian Wilkinson from a sharp angle on the right hit the corner of the posts.

Now, France woke up a little, and took more part in the game, as they stood up to the physical presence of the North Americans. At 58 minutes, Pichot escaped her marker in the middle and unleashed a powerful shot. At 74 minutes she forced McLeod into conceding a corner. France was awarded a series of free kicks close to the box mere minutes before the final whistle. Almost at the end of the game, from a sharp shot from Bompastor, Casseleux kicked a volley, but the ball was cleared from the line by Robyn Gale. Then, the last attempt from Tonazzi hit the side of the net.

"It was nothing short of a total team effort," said Head coach Even Pellerud. "This win will prove to be a confidence builder for our second match this Tuesday."New cap Amy Vermeulen played a good game, and a measure of the Canadian defensive effort was when an exhausted French star Marinette Pichon left the field at the 75 minute mark.

French forward Laëtitia Tonazzi talked about the first game as being their opening match of the season. The French team is still peaking for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Austria and England and they are not yet at their best. The French are not concerned about Canada's win. They see Canada as a solid opponent, and when the French team reviewed videotapes of the match they realised that they used the long ball too much against a team which is good in the air. The French will correct this in Tuesday's game by using a ground game through the midfield, and they have been working on this in training. "Tough opponents like Canada are a good preparation for the matches against Austria and England." The Canadians are physically strong athletes and well-conditioned. "They enjoyed the run of play in the first half as they carried on with the tactics they had used against China. The French are "not yet fully fit."

International Friendly Rouen, France

France 0(0) Canada 1(1)Goals: Canada – Sinclair (43)

Warnings: Lattaf 36' France ; Hermus 41' Canada

Canada Team:: 22-Erin McLEOD ; 9-Martina FRANKO, 18-Robyn GAYLE, 11-Randee HERMUS, 3-Melanie BOOTH; 16-Rhian WILKINSON (6-Kristina KISS 75'), 8-Diana MATHESON, 13-Amy WALSH (2-Sophie SCHMIDT 82'), 17-Brittany TIMKO (5-Andrea NEIL 70') ; 10-Amy VERMEULEN (4-Sasha ANDREWS 90'), 12-Christine SINCLAIR ©.

Coach: Even PELLERUD

Substitutes not used: 1-Leisha ALCIA (G), 7-Erin RAMSEY, 14-Carmelina MOSCATO

French team:: 1-Céline DEVILLE ; 2-Sandrine DUSANG, 5-Sabrina VIGUIER, 4-Laura GEORGES, 3-Peggy PROVOST ; 10-Camille ABILY (13-Anne-Laure CASSELEUX 70'), 6-Elise BUSSAGLIA, 7-Hoda LATTAF, 8-Sonia BOMPASTOR © ; 9-Marinette PICHON (12-Julia DANY 75'), 11-Laëtitia TONAZZI.

Coach: Elisabeth LOISEL.

Substitutes not used: 14-Alexandra GUINE, 15-Delphine BLANC, 16-Bérangère SAPOWICZ (G), 17-Laure LEPAILLEUR, 18-Ludivine DIGUELMAN