RHIAN'S SOCCER AND MEDIA REPORTS

 

 CANADA DEFEATS SWITZERLAND           18th May 2011

CSA and CBC Sources

 

In front of a small crowd Canada defeated Switzerland 2:1 on Wednesday 18th May in a Women's International Friendly match in Niederhasli, Switzerland. The Canucks went down a goal early, but came back to score two goals and win the home and away series against their European opponents.

 

 

Ana Maria Crnogorcevic scored the opening goal for the Swiss, but then Swiss captain Caroline Abbé inadvertently knocked a ball into her own net to even the score. Canada's Christina Julien scored the winning goal in the second half.

Three days after finishing tied 1 - 1 in Italy, the Canadians were determined to do better. That first game "was played in a rainstorm", said Sinclair. "It just wasn't a pretty game," 

 

For this second leg, Canada came out strong. In the opening minute, Canada was denied a penalty. But, despite Canada's best intentions to take control, it was the Swiss who scored first. 

 

Ramona Bachmann played a ball wide to Lara Dickenmann who then took the ball down the left flank and crossed it to the far post. Bachmann received the cross and played a light, first-time touch across to the top of the six-yard box that Crnogorcevic put in the back of the net.

 

Canada did not let up their pressure after the goal. Kaylyn Kyle and Diana Matheson both had shots in the next few minutes, while at the other end Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made a good save in the 12th minute. Matheson then made another good attempt on goal in the 19th minute.

In the 31st minute, Canada evened the score 1-1. Kaylyn Kyle passed the ball from the top of the box to captain Christine Sinclair who took it down to the touch line. She hit the ball back across the face of the goal and it caromed off Abbé and into the net.

 

Matheson had been taken down, so maybe they were thinking a penalty was going to be called," said Sinclair. "I just crossed it and it went off the Swiss player. (Abbé)".

In the second half, Canada came right back to the attack, with strikers Jonelle Filigno, Christine Sinclair and Christina Julien taking early shots. In the 57th minute, it was Sinclair who made another good rush on goal.

"We could have easily scored another five goals," said Sinclair of the team's performance. "We're definitely showing signs of improvement which is what we are looking for heading into the FIFA Women's World Cup."

In the 59th minute, Julien gave Canada the lead that it would not concede. The play started after Schmidt won possession in the midfield, played it wide to Marie-Eve Nault who then connected centrally with Matheson. Matheson dribbled the ball down the centre of the field and played it to Sinclair, who received the pass with her back to the goal. Sinclair quickly turned right and slipped a through ball to Kelly Parker. Parker cut towards goal and then played a square ball along the ground past Brunner and to the feet of the goal scorer Julien. It marked Julien's sixth goal with the national team.

Canada unleashed some more shots on goal before the final whistle, but did not add to its lead. In the 84th minute, Zurrer hit the ball into the back of the Swiss net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

For this match, Canadian coach Carolina Morace featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Marie-Eve Nault at left back, Emily Zurrer and Candace Chapman at centre back, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, and Sophie Schmidt, Diana Matheson, Jonelle Filigno, Kaylyn Kyle, Christina Julien and Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Carolina Morace's six substitutions were Kyle off for Kelly Parker (46th minute), Julien off for Desiree Scott (62'), Nault off for Chelsea Stewart (63'), Filigno off for Brittany Timko (68'), Wilkinson off for Robyn Gayle (72'), and Schmidt off for Carmelina Moscato (81').

Canada is currently preparing for the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011. The event runs this 26 June to 17 July in nine German cities, with Canada opening up against the host Germany on 26 June. Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has posted seven wins, one draw and two losses this 2011 season.

The Canadians opened their pre-World Cup camp in Rome earlier this month, and have several more exhibition matches scheduled against European squads.