photo by Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports
By FRANCO PANIZO
Canada is off to a winning start at the Women’s World Cup, but not without controversy.
Canada defeated China, 1-0, on Saturday in the tournament’s opening game thanks to a 92nd-minute penalty kick from Christine Sinclair, but the play that gave the World Cup hosts that attempt from 12 yards out was the subject of plenty of debate.
Adriana Leon was deemed to have been fouled in the box by Zhao Rong, who tried to get to the ball first before colliding into Leon with an outstretched arm.
Regardless of the decision, Sinclair sent Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton into a frenzy when she converted the spot kick a minute before the final whistle. China goalkeeper Wang Fei dove in the direction of Sinclair’s shot, but could not keep the ball out.
In Saturday’s other Group A game at Commonwealth Stadium, the Netherlands defeated New Zealand by the same score. The lone goal in that one came courtesy of a splendid strike from Lieke Martens in the first half.
Martens capitalized on the space and time she had just outside the left side of the penalty area, and unleashed a venomous shot that soared into the back of the net.
Canada and the Netherlands currently sit in a tie for first place in Group A with three points apiece while China and New Zealand follow.
The Women’s World Cup continues on Sunday with Norway facing Thailand and Germany playing Ivory Coast in Group B action.
See Martens’ goal below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eiTGaodRk
Given some of the hype, I thought this Canada team looked like an über-lite version of their neighbors to the south…mostly route 1, relying heavily on service for a talisman striker to head home and a midfielder who likes to blasts shots from outside of the box. That’s to say nothing of the fact their lineup only has added one or two new faces over the last four years as well.
Despite dominating possession, not sure Canada was really “deserving” of the three points. They created very little in the way of threatening chances, though the PK call was fair. Leon nearly had her head taken off, no idea what the Chinese defender was doing there. That said, Canada celebrating the PK conversion like they just won the World Cup was very telling. That country has a way of putting too much pressure on its athletes (see Olympics and hockey), and I’m not sure the mental toughness of this particular team can handle the expectation.
Wasn’t overly impressed with NED or NZL. I guess we’ll see, but I’d be surprised if any of these teams from this group reached the semis.
I agree. This Canada team is going to crash out badly. Struggling to beat China is ridiculous. Their backline looks suspect and they are over reliant on Sinclair who is still world class but 4 years older now and not as dynamic. Her power and instinct is leaving her more and more every day which is just what happens to Forwards after 30. US team is direct and not necessarily pretty to watch but they are deep and even without Morgan or Wambach the can score on anyone from the forward line or midfield. France are a truly dangerous side and the Germans are ruthless as per usual. I tune into the women’s game once every couple of years to support the women so I will be locked in to see every match at least on DVR. Should be a fun even. I hope the Canadians still show up after their team busts out of the event in the round of 16.
I was at the game in the first deck, at that corner. It was clearly a foul during the game, came in way too hard.
I think it was a fair call. The Chinese girl but her elbow in the face of the Canadian in the goal area. Not much doubt it was a foul
ITA. In real time, it looked like a bogus call, but the replay backed up the ref. It was a combo arm bar/elbow to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity.
Agreed, it wasn’t an egregious foul and some refs might not call that but you jamming an elbow in someones face is not the way to go about screening the ball from another player.