CAP’N CHRISTINE
Sinclair closing in on scoring record after Canadian win
Christine Sinclair is getting closer to becoming the most prolific international goal scorer in soccer history.
Sinclair scored the lone goalina1-0winforthe Canadian women’s national team against Norway in La Magna, Spain, on Tuesday. The goal was Sinclair’ s 178 th in 275 games for Canada.
The 35-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., is chasing retired American striker Abby Wambach for the alltime international lead, men or women, who scored 184 goals in 256 games.
The international friendly against Norway concluded a two-week camp for Canada in Spain, leading up to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France this summer.
“It’s been a great camp for us just starting the season, and to get the win against quality opposition that’s heading to the FIFA Women’s World Cup as well, is a huge bonus, so we’re heading home happy,” Sinclair said. “We’re confident, especially if this is where we’re starting at this year. A lot of us aren’t in-season right now, and we’re just sort of starting and we just beat Norway where most of them are in the middle of the season. We’re confident, and we still have some work to do, but, we’re building.”
Sinclair scored in the 66th minute, heading in a cross from the left corner by second-half substitute Jenna Helstrom, 23, of Sudbury, Ont. Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, 32, of Stony Plain, Alta., earned her 25th international clean sheet.
“It feels great to get the win and I believe there was something in our game that looked very promising,” Canadian head coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller said. “For this team to get where we are in such a short period of time, is important. There are definitely some areas that we need to review from (Tuesday), but the win against a quality side like Norway is a great start to the year as we push forward to France 2019.”
Norway’s best chance to score came in the 15th minute when striker Caroline Graham Hansen was sent through alone on the Canadian net. Labbe, however, was able to make an outstanding save, getting a foot down to direct Hansen’s shot just wide.
A minute earlier, Sinclair came close to opening the scoring when she received a ball in the box, turned and fired a shot which Norwegian goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth was forced to palm away.
Norway had a late chance to tie the game, but a long shot from outside of the box in the 89th minute hit the top of the crossbar.
Canada used the allowed six substitutes in the contest against Norway. Along with a scoreless training match against Switzerland on Thursday, Heiner-Moller, who took over for John Herdman just over a year ago, had an opportunity to see all 23 players who were invited to the camp on the field at some point.
“I know when I took this team, I was very humbled,” Heiner-Moller said Monday, prior to the contest. “It’s a great team and no matter who coaches this team, they will always be good. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to make sure that they build on their skill set, build on their team performance. I am pretty confident about this team and it’s just a pleasure to work with them.”