Christine’s supreme as Scots lose Algarve opener
SCOTLAND ....... 0 CANADA .......... 1
IT was an unhappy return for Lee Alexander as Scotland’s No.1 as a spot-kick from history-chasing Christine Sinclair gave Canada the points.
The Glasgow City keeper underwent a heel operation in the winter and missed the January friendlies against Norway and Iceland.
But despite a solid showing from the women in Dark Blue, a ALAN CAMPBELL penalty from Sinclair – who moved to within five goals of matching Abby Wambach’s world record of 187 international strikes – eight minutes from time handed them defeat in their Algarve Cup opener.
The penalty, after right-back Chloe Arthur took Ashley Lawrence down just inside the box, was tough on Alexander and her defenders.
But she said: “It was just good to get back into the team – my last Scotland game was back in November against the USA.
“I’d been struggling with it for about a year so it was the best opportunity to have the op.
“We’d done our homework on Sinclair and saw she puts them to both sides. I went to the right and unfortunately she puts it to my left. That’s the one goal that’s cost us the game.”
Scotland came close to an equaliser in time added on when Rachel Corsie just failed to get a touch on a Caroline Weir free-kick.
The Scots now play Iceland in their second Group A game on Monday.