Four for Sinclair as Canada Smash Six

Canada 6:0 Haiti

By Kara McDermott

The chants started even before the flags came out on the field, “We’re here for Canada, we’re here for Canada.” And indeed, the home crowd was enthusiastic in their support for Big Red, propelling Canada to a decisive victory in their opening match of group play of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Canada immediately set the pace they wanted the match to run. Haiti made a few early runs in the first minutes, but Canada quickly took over complete control of the game.

In just the 7th minute, Canada marked the board when Kelly Parker sent a ball forward down the right side to captain Christine Sinclair who slid a perfectly placed pass across the penalty box between her defender and Haitian goalkeeper Ednie Limage. Christine Julien was there for an easy pick-pocket to start Canada’s momentum.

And it didn’t stop. Canada continued with constant pressure on Haiti’s back line, earning four offside calls in the first 12 minutes. Canadian coach John Herdman was vocal throughout the match, shouting his favorite motivation over and over again, “Keep it moving.”

After early pressure from Haiti, Canada was able to get the ball out of their end and keep it out except for vacuuming up a few errant defensive clears.

Sinclair was the conductor of the orchestrated offense. Following her assist on the first goal, she tallied one for herself in the 12th minute. Rhian Wilkinson angled a ball past the defensive line from the right side. A stutter step to stay legal and Sinclair was able to burst past the line into the goal box. Her shot was caught by Limage’s feet, but the power behind the ball carried it bouncing into the goal for Canada’s second goal.

Haiti showed tremendous tenacity on the ball, and with speed was able to stay in front of the Canadian squad without allowing many breakaways.

But then again in the 43rd minute, Canada showed their quality in the goal box. Parker caught a ball from rolling out on the right side, Melissa Tancredi faked out her defender by allowing the ball to go past her to Jukien, who took a touch back before laying it off to Sinclair. A gathering touch with her right, and Sinclair was able to slot left-footed into the far post.

The second half brought more of the same. In the 55th minute, Sinclair tallied her trick on one of the most artful plays of the game. Tancredi received the ball with her back to the goal, flicked it over her head blindly to Sinclair who took it down with her thigh and shot a low volley left-footed uncontested into the far post.

Tragedy struck Haiti as their most important defender, goalkeeper Limage, took a hard hit in the 62nd minute, crumpling her to the ground. She lay on the turf indicating that her back was injured, but continued to clutch the ball she had saved in the fray. The trainers were called to the field and still she hung on, even while being lifted onto the stretcher. The trainers had to lower her down again before she would let go of the ball, a visual reminder of how her acrobatic heroics had kept Haiti in the game.

The substituted goalkeeper Geralda Saintilus clung to the score line until the 85th minute, when a foul in the box brought up a penalty kick, which Sinclair confidently placed into the low left corner with her right foot.

And finally in stoppage time, a shot from Parker in the box was kick-saved by Saintilus into the post. The deflection was followed by Parker, off a defender, across the goal to the far post, where it bounced off and into the net for the last goal of the match.

Canada thus starts their CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying campaign with a six-goal differential after a four-goal game by Sinclair. They play next on Saturday, January 21st against Cuba at 7:30 PST. Haiti, perhaps without their warrior head goalie, will tackle Costa Rica in the game before at 5:00.

Lineups:
CANADA: Karina LeBlanc, Shannon Woeller, Rhian Wilkinson, Candace Chapman, Christina Julien, Desiree Scott, Christine Sinclair, Sophie Schmidt (Kaylyn Kyle 53′), Melissa Tancredi (Chelsea Buckland ’62), Kelly Parker, Lauren Sesselmann (Chelsea Steward 46′)
Subs not used: Melanie Booth, Carmelina Moscato, Robyn Gayle, Alyscha Mottershead, Brittany Timko, Erin McLeod
Head coach: John Herdman

HAITI: Carmela Aristilde, Kencia Marseille, Fiorda Charles, Wisline Dolce, Sophia Batard (Tatiana Mathelier 78′), Ednie Limage (Geralda Saintilus 66′), Samantha Marie-ann Brand, Kimberly Alexis Boulos, Roselord Borgella (Lovely Placide 46′), Manoucheka Pierre Louis, Nadia Valentin
Subs not used: Natacha Cajuste, Marie-Louinie Valcine, Darlene Beauciquot, Adeline Saintilmond, Marie-Eline Bellevue,
Head coach: Ronald Luxieux

Attendance: 7,627