Canada rolls over El Salvador in W Gold Cup opener
CANADA 6 EL SALVADOR 0
HOUSTON — In its first game in more than two months, Canada showed some rust but also plenty of firepower in a 6-0 win over El Salvador at the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup on Thursday.
Cloe Lacasse had a hand in Canada’s first three goals, scoring one and setting up the other two. Adriana Leon had two goals and an assist.
Jordyn Huitema, Kadeisha Buchanan and Olivia Smith also scored for Canada, which led 3-0 at the half and could have had a bigger cushion if not for errant finishing. An off-balance Lacasse played her part in the setup to Smith’s goal, the first of the 19-year-old’s senior career.
Tenth-ranked Canada outshot No. 104 El Salvador 23-3 (10-3 in shots on target) and had 60 per cent possession in the first-ever senior meeting between the two.
“For me, you walk off frustrated and you actually need to enjoy winning more,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said with a wry smile. “Because I think we have another level in us and I need to be patient with that in terms of growing though the tournament — late arrivals and just getting some rhythm and things.
“But to get a clean sheet and have goals come across many scorers — I think five — we’ve got to be happy.”
Canada faces No. 50 Paraguay on Sunday and No. 43 Costa Rica on Wednesday, also in Houston. Paraguay edged Costa Rica 1-0 in the opening of the Group C doubleheader at Shell Energy Stadium.
Thursday’s game was played against the backdrop of a $40-million lawsuit filed this week against 15 current and former Canada Soccer board directors by the association representing the Canadian women’s team. The lawsuit alleges “negligence and breach of fiduciary duty” by the 2018 board.
Midfielder Jessie Fleming, officially appointed captain earlier this week, led the Canadians out for her 124th cap.
Longtime skipper Christine Sinclair retired from international football in December. Thursday’s game was the first for the Canadians since Sinclair’s Dec. 5 swansong in Vancouver.
Canada wasted little time Thursday with Lacasse beating El Salvador goalkeeper Idalia Serrano in the third minute. A nice touch by Leon found Lacasse flying down the right flank and the Arsenal striker rounded past one defender and then fired a shot that deflected in off another defender.
The California-born Serrano spent four seasons at UCLA as a backup ’keeper before switching to Utah Valley University.