Canada holds off China in opener
EDMONTON, Alberta — Christine Sinclair converted a penalty kick in the second minute of secondhalf stoppage time, giving host Canada a 1-0 win over China on Saturday in the opening match of the Women’s World Cup.
Canada was awarded the penalty by Ukrainian referee Natalia Rachynska after Adriana Leon was fouled by Rong Zhao. The sellout crowd of 53,058 at Commonwealth Stadium, the largest for a national team sporting event in Canada, roared when Sinclair’s shot sailed past goalkeeper Wang Fei.
Attendance was announced at 53,058, a record crowd for a national team sporting event in Canada.
“The first thing that went through my head was ‘I’m taking this.’ I’ve been practicing my whole life for that moment,” said Sinclair, who turns 32 next week. “The next thing through my head was ‘Man, the fans are very loud right now.’ ”
The event began with FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, plagued by scandal. FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced his resignation earlier this week after the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 people on corruption charges related to soccer.
Sinclair’s goal salvaged a frustrating match for Canada, which outshot the visitors 14-5.
Following the gala opening ceremony that included performances by Canadians Sarah McLachlan and Tegan and Sara, China came closest to scoring with a first-half free kick that bounced off both posts.
It was the first match of the monthlong tournament that will be played across six Canadian cities. The United States opens Monday against Australia, and the final is set for July 5.
In a late match Saturday, Lieke Martens’ long strike from outside the box in the first half gave the Netherlands its first Women’s World Cup goal and a 1-0 victory over New Zealand.
Martens curled the ball up and over the outstretched arms of New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler in the 33rd minute. Netherlands is one of eight teams making their debut in the World Cup.
The pressure is on Canada, ranked eighth in the world and making its sixth World Cup appearance. Its best finish was fourth in 2003, and the Canadians were 0-3 at the 2011 tournament in Germany.
Canada has been on the rise in recent years under head coach John Herdman and has also gotten increased support by the government in advance of the World Cup. The team had a surprising bronzemedal finish at the 2012 London Olympics.
Sixteenth-ranked China is returning to the expanded 24-nation World Cup after missing out in 2011, when the field was 16 teams. Known as the Steel Roses, China’s best World Cup finish was second in 1999, when it lost to the United States in the final in Pasadena, California.
Top-ranked Germany is among the favorites with the second-ranked Americans and No. 3 France.