Slow start proves costly in loss to fearless Dutch
Aggressive, prepared Netherlands squad dumps Canada 2-1
The undefeated streak came to an end and with it Canada’s hopes of finishing first in Group E at the Women’s World Cup.
Defender Anouk Dekker and substitute Lineth Beerensteyn scored for the Netherlands in a 2-1 victory in front of 19,277 mostly orange-clad spectators at the Stade Aguste-delaune on Thursday, giving the Dutch first place in the group and relegating Canada to second spot.
Christine Sinclair scored for Canada, which saw its 10-game undefeated streak come to an end and will now travel to Paris to face Sweden on Monday in the round of 16.
“Heading into the game, we knew we had qualified for the next round, but we wanted to get nine points (three wins), so we’re obviously disappointed,” said Sinclair, who was named player of the match.
“I think we’re a little disappointed with how we performed in parts of the game. It took us a little too long to get our footing. They started very strong and we definitely didn’t. If you do that in the knockout rounds, you might be down two goals and the game is over. So it’s a little bit of a wake-up call for us, I think, especially at the start of the game.”
Beerensteyn scored the winning goal with 15 minutes left in the game, poking in a low cross from Desiree Van Lunteren after starting the play down the left side. Beerensteyn had been on the field for only five minutes, replacing striker Lieke Martens.
“It was an explosive start, and then it definitely levelled off a little bit, from our perspective,” Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-moller said. “We played a team that was prepared, they were not afraid, they stepped forward and were being very aggressive. We lost the ball too often, too early, a little bit forced because they were good in the pressure and then we were a little bit stretched.”
It’s the first time this year Canada has given up two goals in a game. They went into the match having conceded one goal in their past 10 games.
The game got off to an exciting start. Less than a minute in, Canada forward Janine Beckie took the ball off Netherlands defender Van Lunteren, was tripped and fell in the penalty area.
French referee Stephanie Frappart didn’t hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot, but as Sinclair stepped up to take it, the VAR (video assistant referee) officials suggested a second look.
After nearly a four-minute delay, Frappart determined, correctly, the contact had occurred just outside of the penalty area and a free kick was awarded.
Dekker opened the scoring in the 54th minute, getting to the end of a free kick crossed into the box and heading the ball past Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe.
It was the first goal Canada has conceded in the tournament and ended its shutout run at 477 minutes.
Sinclair tied the game at 1-1 six minutes later. The goal was Sinclair’s 182nd and it put her two away from tying retired American striker Abby Wambach for the all-time international record.
“It was just an absolutely world-class ball from Ash (Ashley Lawrence),” Sinclair said. “Something that we’ve been trying to stress throughout the course of this tournament is early crosses, whip crosses in behind back lines, before the opponents are set. It was absolutely perfect.”
It was Sinclair’s 10th World Cup goal and gave her the distinction of scoring in five World Cup tournaments, joining Marta of Brazil as the only players to accomplish the feat. Sinclair was subbed out in the 68th minute, replaced by Adriana Leon.
“That makes me feel so young,” Sinclair said with a smile when asked of the accomplishment. “No, it’s just proud, to be up there with Marta, it’s a huge honour and I’m just proud of the longevity of my career and my ability to change, adapt and be able to grow with the game and that I can still have an impact and score some goals.
“But we lost.”
After surviving the penalty-kick scare, the Netherlands dictated most of the play in the first half.
The Netherlands came close to taking the lead in the 23rd minute when forward Shanice Van de Sanden sent a cross into the bar, which Labbe tipped off the crossbar.
The ball fell in front of the net, where Shelina Zadorsky made a goal-saving block on Martens.
“I didn’t think we were good enough,” Beckie said.
“I thought the goals they got, we gave them. There was very few times where I thought they broke us down in order to score.
“It’s a tournament, though. We’ll be (upset) about it tonight and we’ll rest tomorrow and get ready for whoever is next.”