SINCLAIR SETS WORLD RECORD
Her 184 goals top all women, men
Going into the opening game of the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, it was not a question of whether Canadian striker Christine Sinclair would set the all-time international scoring record, but when.
It took Sinclair just seven minutes to score her first of the game for Canada, tying retired U.S. striker Abby Wambach for the record — men or women — with 184 goals for her country.
Sinclair broke the record 16 minutes later on a set-up from Adriana Leon in the lopsided 11-0 victory.
“Just unbelievable,” Sinclair told One Soccer following the game. “When I first started with the national team I could have never imagined standing here with the number of goals I’ve scored. It would have been impossible without my teammates who were beside me the entire way; all the coaches I’ve had, all the people back home who have supported me, a massive thank you.”
Wambach sent a congratulatory tweet to Sinclair moments after she scored the historic goal. Sinclair stands alone ahead of Wambach, Americans Mia Hamm (158), Kristine Lily (130) and German Birgit Prinz (128). Ali Daei of Iran holds the men’s record with 109. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is next at 99.
Leon had four goals in the win Wednesday, Ashley Lawrence had two, while Jayde Riviere, Jessie Fleming and Jordyn Huitema scored the others in Canada’s most lopsided victory since defeating Cuba 12-0 at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship on the same field in Edinburg, Texas.
The game proved to be a warmup for Canada, who need to make the final of the tournament to qualify for their fourth consecutive Olympic tournament in Tokyo this summer. Canada plays Jamaica on Saturday and Mexico on Tuesday in their final two Group B games.
The United States, Haiti, Costa Rica and Panama make up Group A. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals.
“There is something to be said about the qualification tournament, I think it brings out the best in teams,” Sinclair said. “We didn’t like the way the fall ended for us and we wanted to put things right and we’ve been working very hard. I think (Wednesday) it showed the work we put in.”
Sinclair, 36, was playing her 290th game for Canada in an illustrious career, which has spanned two decades. A Burnaby, B.C., product, Sinclair played at the University of Portland, leading them to a national championship in her sophomore year and then again as a senior before turning professional. She currently plays her club soccer with the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Sinclair made her senior Canadian debut at the 2000 Algarve Cup as a 16-year-old. She scored her first international goal in a 2-1 loss against Norway on March 14, 2000.
Sinclair has gone on to represent Canada at five FIFA Women’s World Cup and three Olympics. She and Brazilian striker Marta are the only two players to have scored at five World Cups.
One of Sinclair’s most iconic moments came at the 2012 Summer Olympics where she scored a hat-trick in a controversial 4-3 semifinal loss against the United States at the famed Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England.
Canada is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, finishing third in both London and then in Rio four years later.
“I’m so happy for her,” Canada
head coach Kenneth Heiner-moller said. “She’s had so much weight on her shoulders because it’s been coming and people have been speaking about it for so long. To get that over and done with, I think it’s a massive relief for her and the team.”
Canada is looking to qualify for their fourth consecutive Olympic tournament and got off to a good start with the victory against St. Kitts and Nevis.
Sinclair won a penalty six minutes into the game when she was fouled at the edge of the six-yard box on a cross swung into her at the far post. The longtime Canadian captain stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Kyra Dickenson.
Leon put Canada up 2-0 in the 12th minute with her first of four goals. Lawrence made it 3-0 with a long-distance shot into the bottom corner before Sinclair scored the record breaker five minutes later.
Sinclair took a pass from Leon in front and had all day to slide the ball past Dickenson. Leon added two more in the half and Riviere scored to give Canada a 7-0 lead after 45 minutes.
With both the record and the game in hand, Sinclair was subbed out early in the second half. She was replaced by Huitema, who plays for Paris Saint Germain and is considered Sinclair’s heir apparent.
Canada kept pushing forward in the second half and Fleming scored, getting to a ball floated over the St. Kitts and Nevis back line and slotting it into the net. Lawrence added her second in the 57th minute to increase the lead to 9-0.
Huitema scored in the 74th minute, while Leon added her fourth with 10 minutes left.
Canada is looking to win their group in order to, likely, avoid the United States in the semifinal on Feb. 7 in Carson, Calif.