Canada find their feet in 2-1 win over gutsy Ireland
Sports
Canada secured a 2-1 victory against Ireland in the Women's World Cup on Wednesday.
PERTH (Reuters) - An accurate toe-poke by forward Adriana Leon coupled with a touch of fortune allowed Canada to secure a 2-1 victory against Ireland on Wednesday, their first of this year's Women's World Cup, in wet and windy conditions at Perth Oval.
Fresh off a scoreless draw with Nigeria, Canada put themselves ahead in the match when Leon found the back of the net in the 53rd minute as her side increasingly exerted their dominance over a plucky Irish outfit.
"I think the character, the quality and the experience that came about in the second half, that's the type of performance that we need moving forward," Canada coach Bev Priestman told a press conference.
Canada face Australia on Monday where both teams will be aiming to finish top of Group B. Ireland, however, cannot reach the knockout stage having also lost to co-hosts Australia and will head home after playing Nigeria in Brisbane.
In an exciting first half that had attacking play at both ends, Ireland captain Katie McCabe opened the scoring with a fourth minute corner that curled through the air and into the net, giving the girls in green their first-ever World Cup goal.
Canada worked diligently but failed to convert their first genuine chance in the 30th minute when Vanessa Gilles put too much on a chip within the six-yard box.
Some luck fell the way of the Olympic champions, though, when they equalised on the cusp of halftime, a powerful cross from midfielder Julia Grosso deflecting off Ireland's Megan Connolly for an own goal in driving rain.
The second half grew into an arm-wrestle, but McCabe battled hard and created two opportunities late in the game which missed the target.
"I'm obviously very, very disappointed that we couldn't get back into the game... but I'm so proud of what we showed," Ireland coach Vera Pauw told reporters.
Brought on after the break, 40-year-old Christine Sinclair found few chances near goal and, fitness permitting, will have to wait until Canada's clash with Australia in Melbourne to potentially become the first player to score at six World Cups.
Comeback win can ignite Canada's World Cup campaign, says Priestman
Canada's ability to come back and beat Ireland 2-1 on Wednesday could prove to be the pivotal moment for the Olympic champions in their Women's World Cup campaign, coach Bev Priestman said.
Canada went behind to a stunning goal directly from a corner in the fourth minute, but rallied to equalise on the stroke of halftime before completing the turnaround early in the second half.
"I said at the end, 'It can be the making of us,'" Priestman told a press conference. "It's tough. We wobbled in the first half, our bravery wasn't there and I felt we played a little bit scared.
"I reminded them that we're Olympic champions and that we've got to take a step forward and be brave and get after this, and it's not going to be easy. The character, the quality, the experience that came about in the second half, that's the type of performance that we need."
Canada looked nothing like Olympic champions in their 0-0 draw with Nigeria and for the first half on Wednesday. When Ireland captain Katie McCabe curled in a brilliant corner kick early on, Canada's chances felt as funereal as the sodden weather at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
But an own goal by Ireland midfielder Megan Connolly evened things up just before halftime, then Adriana Leon scored in the 53rd minute, and the seventh-ranked Canadians thoroughly dominated until the final whistle.
"When we play brave, we can be unstoppable," Priestman added. "I think it took it took a rocket in the first half and halftime to really make us believe that and I think when this team plays with bravery and belief, we can do what we did in that the second half."
The British coach also made some key changes at halftime, bringing on 40-year-old Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt, who have close to 600 caps between them.
"Listen, Sophie Schmidt, Christine Sinclair, I thought their quality when we really needed it, they just allowed us to keep the ball in building," Priestman said.
"It was a big part of the game plan. My explanation for the selection was exactly that, 'You can be the reason that we win,' to come in and bring that quality when we really need it."
Sinclair, who has the most international goals in history with 190, gingerly limped off the pitch at the final whistle and Priestman confirmed her captain was being tested for an injury, but she did not know the details.
A goal in this tournament would make Sinclair the first player to score at six World Cups.
Canada play Australia in their final Group B game on Monday in Melbourne.
