Hard- fought game friendly by name, but fierce by nature
It started out looking like a friendly, but the competitive juices took over. And an upset was almost the end result.
The Canadian women’s national team overcame some tense moments to force a 1- 1 comeback draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s W- League side in what was a hotly contested — sometimes chippy — match in front of a crowd of a few hundred people at the South Surrey Athletic Park Thursday evening.
“I think we did really well to stay as a defensive unit for the whole match and credit to the players, they worked very hard,” said Whitecaps head coach Jesse Symons.
“They were really committed to make sure that Canada wasn’t able to penetrate us or get in behind us and for the most part they did a very good job.”
Christine Sinclair, Canada’s top scoring female soccer player, broke the Whitecaps stifling defence in the 13th minute of the third period.
She capitalized from long range to put the national side on even terms with Vancouver, which came into the match with a 0- 2 record in W- League regular season play and will entertain the Seattle Sounders women’s squad Sunday at Coquitlam’s Percy Perry Stadium.
Sinclair had a golden opportunity in the first period, but chipped the ball over top of the Whitecaps net.
She then set up Kaylyn Kyle in the second period, however the Canadian midfielder was denied from inside the 18- yard box on a tremendous stop from goalkeeper Alyssa Williamson, who played the final 45 minutes of the game for Vancouver.
Before Sinclair’s late- game heroics, it looked like the Whitecaps might pull off a notable upset over the Canadian Olympic team.
Mele French opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the third period, as she collected her own rebound off a penalty kick and chipped the loose ball over goalkeeper Erin Mcleod, who started in place of Karina Leblanc, who continues to recover from a recent ankle injury.
“Very intense. Best we’ve ever played so far,” said French. “It’s such a challenge. Our first two games turned out to be losses and we were actually expected to win those two games. For us to come out here, stay confident, stay hungry, stay aggressive, it was a huge challenge. Luckily we have the personnel and the personalities to stay positive and energetic, and it was a tough battle. We did well.”
Despite being down a goal — and being denied on several scoring opportunities — the nationals rallied against a stingy Whitecaps side. “You’ve got to expect that,” said John Herdman, head coach of the national team.
“For these girls, it’s a big night for them, a big occasion for the Whitecaps, so they’re going to get up for that. I don’t think they’re threatened too much, but they defended well and they certainly competed. And it’s what our girls need. They need to be put on that level of competition where the opposition isn’t going to relent.”
The Canadian side recently concluded a 17- day camp in Vancouver.
“We did OK. Obviously we’re coming off a tough training camp and we’re not the most fresh group of players right now, but that’s the point,” said Sinclair.
The nationals will now travel to Moncton, NB., where they meet China in another friendly on May 30. They’ll open up the Olympics on July 25 against the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions from Japan.