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SOCCER MEDIA REPORTS:

CANADA WINS FIRST MATCH IN CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

4th April 2008

From a CSA Report

Photo : CanadaSoccer.com

Canada's senior team got off to a good start at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament with a 6:0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Canada counted goals from six different players in the match en route to the victory.

Melissa Tancredi, Jonelle Filigno and Kara Lang scored in the first half while Randee Hermus, Jodi-Ann Robinson and Christine Sinclair scored in the second half. Filigno scored her first goal while Sinclair scored her nation-leading 86th goal.

Canada had full command of the match from the opening kick. Within the first six minutes, Canada had created three good chances. Four minutes later, Canada opened the scoring off a Rhian Wilkinson cross into the box. Tancredi converted to put the Canucks up 1-0. In the 21st minute, Wilkinson initiated another goal, this time off a corner kick. Wilkinson shot was first headed by Tancredi and then struck in by teenager Filigno who was on the line.

With two goals in hand, Canada continued to press forward. In the 28th minute, Sinclair's free kick sent the ball in nicely, although the ball hit the top of the net. In the 34th minute, Wilkinson created another opportunity on a corner kick. In the 38th minute, it was Sinclair again, this time on a run inside the box. Finally in the 39th minute, Sinclair's shot in a melée deflected back to Lang who had plenty of space to drive home Canada's third goal of the game.

Canada continued to create problems for the Trinidad & Tobago defence late in the first half, forcing goalkeeper Kimika Forbes to make a pair of saves of Tancredi and Sinclair. In the second half, Canada continued the attack. After making their first change in the 58th minute (Jodi-Ann Robinson on for Tancredi), Canada connected for their fourth goal in the 60th minute. Candace Chapman's long free kick was perfectly headed in by the midfielder Hermus.

After Trinidad & Tobago created a good chance in the 62nd minute (Ahkeela Mollon fired a shot just wide), Canada found more ways to give their opposition trouble. After another notable chance in the 65th minute (Filigno shot the ball just wide), Canada scored its fifth goal in the 69th minute. This time, forward Robinson headed home a cross.

In the last 20 minutes, captain Sinclair went about creating her own chances to add to the mix. She had a shot on goal in the 74th minute and then another good chance in the 77th minute. Finally in the 87th minute, Sinclair controlled a ball off her chest and tipped the ball past the goalkeeper.

Canada had a pair of chances late in the game, but the six goals were enough. Canada has now outscored Trinidad and Tobago's senior women's side by a combined score of 23-0 in five matches. Tonight's contest, though, was the first since 1994.

Along with all the scoring, Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod posted the clean sheet. McLeod (38 caps) also moved past Nicci Wright for second in all-time senior appearances by a goalkeeper.

Canada made three substitutions in the match: in the 58th, 69th and 72nd minutes. After the Robinson-for-Tancredi change, Canada then switched Alexandra Marton in for Martina Franko and Brittany Timko in for Candace Chapman.

Up next will be Canada's next round-robin opponent Costa Rica on 6 April. Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners, wants to finish first or second in its three-team group to advance to the 9 April semi-final. Canada needs to win the semi-final match to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.