It was supposed to be Canada's toughest test of the group stage.
But the Canadian women's soccer team cruised to an easy 5-1 victory over
Costa Rica on Monday, setting up a likely Canada-Mexico semifinal
showdown at the CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying tournament at BC
Place.
Monday's game drew a crowd of 8,105, down
from the 12,417 in Game 2 Saturday against Cuba. School nights mean a
smaller crowd.
While facing their toughest opponent yet, Canada got off to another
strong start. Rhian Wilkinson's strong shot into box in the sixth minute
found an open Christine Sinclair, who juggled the ball before putting it
past goalkeeper Julieth Arias and defender Fabiola Sanchez — who
unsuccessfully attempted to knock the ball down with her hand.
Less than four minutes later, midfielder Sophie Schmidt took advantage
of an Arias flub, scoring on a rebound to give Canada a two-goal lead.
Parker, who helped set up Schmidt's tally, nearly added another marker
moments later but her shot sailed just wide of the Cuban net.
Having failed to convert on her many chances in Saturday's game against
Cuba, Kaylyn Kyle scored her first of the tournament in the 19th minute.
The midfielder headed in a low, left-footed lob from Sinclair, who
improved her assists total to three.
Sinclair then scored her second of the night and seventh of the tourney
in the final minute of the first half, knocking down yet another
Wilkinson pass before powering the shot into the net. The goal moves her
past American Abby Wambach for most goals in tournament history with 13.
Costa Rica added an own goal in the 50th minute as defender Marianne
Ugalde's slow pass back fooled her own goalkeeper, giving Canada a 5-0
lead. It marked the most goals Costa Rica has given up in a game at the
final round of Olympic qualifying.
"To get five goals in the first 60 minutes, just put the game to bed for
these lot here," said Canada coach John Herdman. "I just enjoyed it. It
was just really fun to watch, they played some great football." The
Costa Ricans ruined Canadian goalie Karina LeBlanc's clean sheet,
getting on the board in the 88th minute when Fernanda Barrantes took a
Raquel Rodriguez cross in the box to score her lone goal of the
tournament.
"The prep was really taking it to another level tonight," said Herdman.
"We had to step it up and we wanted to show an intensity that we would
take into the semifinals. It was about establishing a work ethic habit.
And we did."
"Going into the game, our plan was to never
stop running and just do the things that we've been focusing on all
week," said midfielder Kelly Parker. "I think we've accomplished that."
Canadian head coach John Herdman said his players "destroyed" Costa
Rica in the first half and then conserved themselves in the second 45
minutes, with a view to keeping fresh for the semifinals. Herdman said
his team's 96-hour break between this victory and the semifinal game
on Friday is a "massive advantage" over the 72-hour rest the U.S. and
Mexico will get.
Herdmann said he's not necessarily hoping the U.S. beats Mexico
tonight so Canada plays a weaker Mexican side on Friday. "What will be
will be, we'll be ready," he said. "Whatever they throw at us, the
universe will give us something and we'll take what's given. These
players are ready, no matter what happens."
