RHIAN'S SOCCER REPORTS

CANADA SQUEEZES PAST MEXICO  13th December 2010

(From CSA and CBC Articles)

Sunday evening, 12th December, Canada won its third international match against Mexico in less than six weeks. Captain Christine Sinclair scored the only goal of the match in a 1:0 victory at the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo. The goal was her fourth in three matches dating back to the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier championship final.

Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc posted the clean sheet - her fifth-straight clean sheet and eighth of the season. Canada remains in first place in the tournament with a perfect six points in the four-country tournament. Canada's next pool round opponent will be Brazil, who also have six points but a weaker goal differential (Canada is +6 while Brazil is +4).

Canada will close out the pool phase against Brazil, while Mexico will close out against Netherlands on Wednesday 15th December. The match will be an unusual 10:00 pm kick-off. With Mexico and Netherlands eliminated from the top two spots in the standings, Canada will play against Brazil a second time in the Sunday 19th December final final. This is good news for Canada fans as with brazil in the finals, the games will probably be televised.

Sinclair's goal was scored in the 22nd minute, nearly half way through the first half. When the Mexicans made a defensive error, She put a chip ball past the goalkeeper for the 111th goal of her international career. Along with the Sinclair goal midway through the first half, Canada had two other good chances to score in the first 45 minutes. Just minutes before the goal, Sinclair hit a post; then, late in the first half, a Melissa Tancredi penalty kick was stopped by Mexican goalkeeper Erika Vanegas. Canada was awarded the penalty when Diana Matheson was fouled inside the box.

"This was a tough match, because Mexico had to win," said Canadian coach Carolina Morace. "Mexico gave us plenty of work and now we will have a very important two days of rest before facing Brazil."

In the second half, Mexico raised its game, using good speed and pressuring the Canadian defence. However, that defence held, including a Karina LeBlanc save from the feet of Nayeli Rangel in the box. In contrast, the Canadians mounted fast counter-attacks and looked dangerous. causing danger to the Mexican goal. Aos 3 minutos, Josèe Belanger

Canada's starting XI featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Rhian Wilkinson, Emily Zurrer, Carmelina Moscato and Marie-Eve Nault at defence, and Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson, Christina Julien, Josée Bélanger, Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi from midfield to attack. Canada's three substitutions were Chelsea Stewart (for Kyle) in the 57th minute, Laura Chénard (for Julien) in the 74th minute, and Robyn Gayle (for Sinclair) in the 89th minute.

As for Mexico, they played a 4-3-3 formation with Erik Vanegas in goal. The defenders were Rubi Sandoval, Alina Garciamendez, Bianca Sierra and Luz del Rosario Saucedo; the midfielders were Lydia Rangel, Liliana Mercado and Teresa Worbis; the forwards were Sandra Mayor, Dinora Garza and Veronica Perez. Coach Leonardo Cuellar then made one substitution, bringing in Tania Morales (for Rangel) in the 66th minute.

Of note from the Canadian lineup, Melissa Tancredi made her 50th appearance with Canada's national team, thus becoming the 20th player to reach that milestone. Today's international match was played at Estádio do Pacaembu in São Paulo, Brazil, and the attendance was 7,681.
 

Yellow cards - Melissa Tancredi (Canada) and Marlene Sandoval (Mexico)