Canada tops Australia in soccer friendly
SYDNEY — Mission accomplished for Bev Priestman after two straight wins in Australia in Canada’s first step on the road to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Despite missing her entire backline, the Canada coach saw her seventh-ranked side concede just one goal with defenders Bianca StGeorges and Jade Rose making the most of playing time. Priestman deployed a new 4-2-3-1 formation with Manchester United forward Adriana Leon accounting for all the goals in 1-0 and 2-1 victories over the 12th-ranked Matildas in Brisbane and Sydney.
The Australians pressed Canada and were quick on the counterattack Tuesday in taking a 1-0 firsthalf lead before some 27,000 at the newly rebuilt Allianz Stadium. But the Canadians came out with renewed purpose after the break, pulling ahead on Leon goals in the 48th and 64th minute.
“At halftime for me, it was probably just demanding more from the group,” Priestman said after the match. “We talked about performances across two games and keeping our standards high and not standing still.”
Canada won 1-0 when the teams met Saturday at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Leon, a 29-year-old from King City, Ont., has scored in three of Canada’s last four games to up her total to 27 in 88 international appearances.
The games in Australia were the first for Canada since July when it qualified for the World Cup by virtue of finishing runner-up to the top-ranked Americans at the CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico. Canada will learn its path at the 32-country tournament at the draw in Auckland in October.
Allianz Stadium and Suncorp Stadium will both host matches at next year’s World Cup, which kicks off in July in 10 stadiums in nine host cities across Australia and New Zealand. The trip to Australia was chosen so the Olympic champion Canadians could get a taste of what awaits them. Australia, which will co-host next year’s World Cup with New Zealand, had its chances in the first game but could not beat goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Australia coach Tony Gustavsson lamented the missed opportunities, saying later his team could have scored three goals on another night.