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As one of the most productive women’s soccer groups in the world, Canada will play matches like Friday’s at the Concacaf W Championship, as opposed to a selfless opponent who decided to survive.
Canada thwarted Panama at the Estadio Universitario in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico, for 64 minutes before midfielder Julia Grosso scored her third goal in two games.
Grosso scored when the ball reached the penalty spot and overlooked defender Yomira Pinzon before pushing it against former goalkeeper Yenith Bailey. The goal gave Canada a 1-0 victory and propelled them into the semifinals of the tournament with an organizing game. to play Costa Rica on Monday.
With the spot in the semi-finals, Canada also earns a place in the expanded 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer. He will face off in the September playoffs for the right-time spot in Paris.
“I think there’s nothing to laugh at going to a World Cup, other people dream of it in their life and it’s the biggest trophy on the planet and anything Canada hasn’t won yet, so I’m glad we’ve qualified tonight,” Canada’s head coach said. Bev Priestman. “I’m extraordinarily frustrated with the game, but at the end of the day we win and we go to the World Cup. “
Canada opened the tournament on Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, scoring 4 goals in the final 11 minutes of the game.
Panama, which started with a 3-0 loss to Costa Rica on Tuesday, looked to thwart Canada early on and put their entire team with the ball to protect themselves.
Panama also used every trick to waste time on the eBook, as Bailey stopped as long as you can imagine when he had the ball, while other players remained on the ground after the slightest touch, leading to many stoppages of the game.
Due to delays, there was little fluidity at the festival and Canada struggled to expand the pace in the game.
“I think the frustration comes from wasting time from the beginning, and I think that’s the Concacaf experience,” Priestman said. “It’s part of frustration and when you’re frustrated, the norm falls. “
“But the groups show us that respect now where they fall into a (defensive) block and play with a back five and are hard to break. Congratulations to Panama for frustrating us and I think the functionality in the first part was not smart enough.
It took Canada about 20 minutes to generate their first smart chance when forward Adriana Leon recruited a left-footed cross through Ashley Lawrence. Leon, however, was unable to direct his loose head towards the target and passed it over the net.
Later, at halftime, Leon played a ball over nichelle Prince, who controlled to put a toe in front of Bailey, the ball rolled deflected.
Just before the end of the half, Leon had another clever chance on a missed shot in Panama, however, a centre in the area after a change left her in awe and she was unable to direct a shot on goal when the ball bounced off her. foot. .
To inject some life into the offense, Priestman called in Jayde Rivière and Cloe Lacasse ahead to start half the moment. Jordyn Huitema was also signed in the 57th minute to update Leon, who had a counterfeit game but probably took more credit. of his chances in front of goal.
Grosso nevertheless broke the tie, pushing back his position as an attacking midfielder and bouncing the ball towards her in the area. of his defender and put the ball in the net.
Despite one goal less, Panama was not interested in overtaking the players in search of an equaliser. His only effort into the net came from the distance of Shayari Camarena, but the ball went over the goal.
Panama made a similar effort in the first half, which almost brought down Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, but landed in the most sensitive part of the net.
D’Angelo took the top spot ahead of Kailen Sheridan, who reprised the role of No. 1 after Stephanie Labbe retired. Sheridan saw the ball slightly in the win over Trinidad and Tobago and D’Angelo did not face Panama either.
Canada’s final round-robin match against Costa Rica on Monday will be the winner of Group B and avoid the United States in the semifinals. The United States leads Group A with just one game to play against Mexico without a win. Haiti and Jamaica will be fighting for the current position in the organization and qualify for the semifinals.
The semifinal will take place on Thursday, with the final on July 18 at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico.
“As we move forward in the next games, it’s more like what we’re used to,” Priestman said. “The groups showed us a point of respect and made it difficult for us to break them. I think it is a consultation to know that we have the capacity and that we have superior criteria regardless of the opposition.
Email: dvandiest@postmedia. com
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