IMPROVED MEXICO A LEGITIMATE THREAT TO DERAIL CANADA
When Canada last faced Mexico in an international women’s soccer game at BMO Field in Toronto last May, their bags were already packed for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the objective was to put on a show in a sendoff match.
It turned out to be a good day for the Canadian women’s national team as Jessie Fleming, Christine Sinclair and Adriana Leon scored in a convincing 3-0 victory.
The stakes will be higher when the two teams meet again Tuesday in Edinburg, Texas, in their final Group B game at the CONCACAF Olympic Women’s qualifying tournament.
Finishing first in the group is imperative to avoid meeting the United States in the semifinals. Only the two finalists earn a trip to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer.
“They have players who can play all over the pitch,” Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-moller said of Mexico. “They have a deep roster, so they don’t have to play the same 11 players over and over again. They set it up nicely to play these big matches.
“They have played the U.S., a few times, Brazil as well. They played Tier 1 teams a few times so they know what we are able to put on them, that kind of pressure. It’s a different match. Every match has its own story, and hopefully, we can write a good one in the 90 minutes.”
Canada has strolled through the qualifying tournament with 11-0 and 9-0 wins over St. Kitts and Nevis and Jamaica respectively. Sinclair has claimed the international all-time scoring record, Leon opened the tournament with a four-goal performance, Jordyn Huitema netted five in the win over Jamaica, while Janine Beckie added a hattrick.
Yet, Mexico presents a different challenge.
Apart from it practically being a home game for Mexico, as Edinburg is less than 35 kilometres from the border, they enter the contest brimming with confidence after defeating Jamaica 1-0 and St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 in their first two group games.
By finishing first and avoiding the U.S. in the semifinal, Mexico would have a legitimate chance of qualifying for their second Olympic tournament. A draw would be good enough for Canada to win the group and face Costa Rica in the semifinal, with a berth in Tokyo on the line Thursday in Carson, Calif.
“We’re in a good spot, and we have to keep working hard in our third game,” Mexican coach Christopher Cuellar said following the win over St. Kitts and Nevis. “This is the important part of the tournament now. I think we’re getting better from the first game to the next, and hopefully, we can keep going to the third.
“The most important thing for us is recovery. We have to recover for a game that’s going to be very intense and have good pace to it. We know our next game is going to be at another level. Canada is one of the best 10 teams in the world and it’s going to be a game that will tell us more about our team, playing that type of an opponent.”
Canada has looked impressive so far at the tournament, regardless of the opposition. They made six changes to the starting lineup from their first game to the next and didn’t skip a beat.
Heiner-moller will field his best lineup against Mexico in their most important game since losing in the second round of the World Cup this summer to Sweden.
Having struggled to score in France, Canada is scoring goals in bunches so far at the Olympic qualifying tournament.
“It’s definitely not just luck,” Heiner-moller said. “After the World Cup, we looked very much at what we did and what we could improve on and what we were actually happy about. The players worked so extremely hard on this.
“In the fall we got a little overcommitted just to actually trying to get a goal, and it became too hectic, but it seems like we actually found a good balance. The players’ performance in front of the goal has been so clinical, it has been impressive.”
As two-time defending bronze medallists, Canada is looking to qualify for their fourth consecutive Olympic tournament. It likely will be Sinclair’s last major international event for Canada after two decades with the national team.
It’s a game Canada isn’t taking lightly against a Mexican program that continues to improve. The only time Mexico qualified for the Olympics in 2004, it came at Canada’s expense.
“Twenty goals in two games is quite incredible for this team,” said Beckie. “I think our standards are high and that’s important. Our goal is to win the group, and the next game is the most important game for us.”