National Post (National Edition)
Labbé proves handy for Canada at Algarve Cup
Goalie makes strong case for keeping starter’s job
Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé is not ready to give up the starter’s jersey with the Canadian national women’s soccer team.
Labbé, in her first start at the Algarve Cup in Portugal on Wednesday, made two outstanding saves in a penalty shootout victory against Sweden, giving Canada the bronze medal in the 12-team tournament.
Labbé stopped two of Sweden’s last four kicks, making diving saves on Mimmi Larsson and Hanna Glas to turn a deficit into an advantage before midfielder Jessie Fleming slotted in the deciding penalty for Canada.
“For me it’s just taking every shot on its own and I was really happy to come out with the first save to keep it tight,” Labbé said. “To make that last save, it felt good that I was able to do that for the team.”
Sophie Schmidt, Deanne Rose, Ashley Lawrence, Janine Beckie, Kadeisha Buchanan and Fleming converted their penalty kicks in the win, while Christine Sinclair had her shot stopped by Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Canada did not concede a goal in the tournament, using three different goalkeepers. Kailen Sheridan started in a scoreless tie against Iceland and veteran Erin Mcleod made her return to the national team for the first time in a year in a 1-0 win against Scotland.
Canada have not given up a goal in their past five games, dating back to a pair of exhibition games against Switzerland and Norway in January. They last conceded a goal in the final of the CONCACAF championships, losing 2-0 to the United States in October.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Canada had Sweden on the defensive for the majority of the contest Wednesday and seems to be on the right track heading toward the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France this summer.
“I think there’s a lot of positives to take out of this tournament,” said Canadian head coach Kenneth Heiner-moller.
“We saw everyone in action, all 23 players — that explains a lot about our depth. This match was awesome, playing against Sweden who is a top team and the amount of pressure we put on them defensively and offensively is pretty amazing.”
Against Sweden, Canada once again lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, which they have been experimenting with at the Algarve Cup.
Canada took the game to Sweden from the onset and their first chance came in the 14 th minute when striker Nichelle Prince sent in a cross from the right wing, which drifted towards the top corner of the net forcing Lindahl to palm it away for a corner kick.
Four minutes later, Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius was played through, but Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan stopped her dead in her tracks with an outstanding lunging tackle. Buchanan was outstanding throughout the tournament playing as the lone central defender with Sophie Schmidt and Shelina Zadorsky at right and left back, respectively, against Sweden.
“It was a super solid performance,” Labbé said. “Coming out against one of the top teams we knew we had to come out and battle. We not only played solid defensively, but offensively, we really took it to them.”
Canada looked to have gone ahead two minutes into first-half injury time when Sinclair played Fleming in down the right side with a pass off her chest off a throw-in by Beckie. Fleming cut the ball to Lawrence in the box, who knocked it in past Lindahl. The goal was called back, however, as Fleming had drifted offside prior to getting the ball from Sinclair.
WORKING THROUGH THE KINKS
In the second half, Canada kept up the pressure, looking for the decisive goal. Allysha Chapman picked out Prince with a cross down the left wing, but her header sailed over the net.
Moments later, Prince blew past her defender down the right side and bounced a cross into the path of Sinclair, but it was poked away at the last second by Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt.
“The (one-versus-one) capabilities of this team is absolutely incredible,” Labbé said. “Fleming was owning the midfield and it was so fun to see players step outside of their comfort zones and live their identities. It was a new format for us so, we were working through the kinks of that.”
With 20 minutes left, Canada made three substitutions and changed formation, pushing Beckie up front as a third striker. Beckie immediately created a chance with her speed, forcing Lindahl to make an excellent save on a shot from the top of the box.
In a shootout format where teams alternated shooting first in each round, Canada fell behind when Sinclair was stopped by Lindahl, who dove to her left to stop the shot.
Sweden remained ahead until Labbé stopped Larsson on Sweden’s fourth attempt, and then turned away Glas three shots later.
Canada will play England in an exhibition game on April 5. They will open the World Cup on June 10 against Cameroon and then face New Zealand on June 15 and conclude their Group E play against the Netherlands on June 20.