Home  ›  Tougher test for Canada in second game of Celebration Tour

Tougher test for Canada in second game of Celebration Tour

Edit
Breadcrumb Trail Links
  • Soccer

    • Adriana Leon scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at the Stade Saputo in Montreal on Tuesday

    Author of the article:

    Derek Van Diest Canada celebrates after (No. 12) Christine Sinclair scores during the first half of a Celebration Tour game against New Zealand in Ottawa on Oct. 23, 2021. Canada won the second game of the tour 1-0 in Montreal on Oct. 26, 2021. Canada celebrates after (No. 12) Christine Sinclair scores during the first half of a Celebration Tour game against New Zealand in Ottawa on Oct. 23, 2021. Canada won the second game of the tour 1-0 in Montreal on Oct. 26, 2021. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

    Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

    Article content

    Canada expected a tougher battle against New Zealand and got one in the second game of their Celebration Tour.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Adriana Leon scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at the Stade Saputo in Montreal on Tuesday. The goal was Leon’s third in the two-game series to commemorate Canada’s gold-meal victory at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer.

    Canada won the first game of the series 5-1 at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa on Saturday.

    “I liked the clean sheet (shutout), I said we didn’t want to concede,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said. “It wasn’t a great performance, I partly expected it with the amount of changes and you miss a little bit of chemistry and flow with some partnerships.

    “We had good spells, but we didn’t have sustained spells and I’m pushing the team to be more consistent back-to-back. But there is something to us being in the emotion and celebration (in Ottawa) and we expected a little of that (drop) tonight, but we just have to keep pushing.”

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Leon scored in the 16th minute, depositing a rebound in past New Zealand goalkeeper Anna Leat, who got the call in favour opening-game starter Erin Nayler.

    The play began with Canada midfielder Jessie Fleming taking a pass at the top of the New Zealand penalty area and then playing the ball into the area to Janine Beckie, who stepped into a low shot.

    Leat did well to get down and stop Beckie with her right arm, but the ball bounced to Leon, who lifted it into the net over the fallen goalkeeper. The goal was similar to the one Leon scored in the first game on Saturday.

    New Zealand came close to tying the game 10 minutes later, as Ria Percival hammered a shot from well outside the penalty area, which was dipping under the crossbar. Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, however, was able to leap up and tip the ball over the cross bar.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Canada dominated possession for the remainder of the half, but were unable to break down a well-organized New Zealand defence.

    “Credit to New Zealand, they came out way more organized and there were a difficult team to beat, they gave us a better challenge,” Priestman said. “But overall, to get the win, and stay undefeated I was really happy.”

    Both coaches emptied their respective benches in the second half, giving as many players as possible an opportunity to play. Each team was permitted six substitutes in the exhibition contest.

    Veteran goalkeeper Erin McLeod was brought in to replace Labbe early in the second half.

    The Celebration Tour is expected to continue with more exhibition games in upcoming FIFA international windows, which might include another match in November, possibly in Vancouver.

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    “We’re working on it, we don’t have the final details yet,” Priestman said. “Our plan is to get this team out on the West coast; I think a lot of our players have roots there, it’s always been a fantastic place and some big moments have happened there for this team. That would be our plan, but we don’t have that finalized yet and we’re working around the clock to get that finalized.”

    SPECIAL HOMECOMING

    Playing in Montreal proved to be special for Evelyne Viens and Gabrielle Carle on Tuesday.

    The two Quebec products had never before played at home with the national team.

    “I had never put the Canadian jersey on in any part of Quebec, so that’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life for sure,” Carle said. “I don’t even think I know the extent of how many friends I had here. It was so cool, I would just look up and I would see my friends and I would think, ‘Wow, you’re here, I didn’t even know.’ It was really cool, all my family was here as well.”

    Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    Carle, 23, was born in Quebec City before moving to Montreal. She is currently playing with Florida State University.

    Viens, 24, was also born and raised in Quebec City and is currently playing with Gotham FC of the NWSL.

    “It was so great to be at home, the crowd was so loud for us,” Viens said. “It was a unique experience for me and the whole team. I knew so many people from my club back home, friends and family came. It was the first time my family saw me play since I became a professional, so that was unique for them and for me too.”

    MINISTERS OF DEFENCE Canada national team goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé and former Canadian minister of national defence Harjit Sajjan meet in Ottawa on Oct. 24, 2021. Canada national team goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé and former Canadian minister of national defence Harjit Sajjan meet in Ottawa on Oct. 24, 2021. Photo by Supplied /Canada Soccer

    Labbe’s performance at the Olympics earned her the nickname, Minister of Defence.

    On Sunday, after not giving up a goal in her half of play against New Zealand the day before, Labbe met Canada’s former minister of national defence Harjit Sajjan.

    The surprise meeting took place in the lobby of the hotel in Ottawa where Canada was staying on its week-long visit to the capital.

    Labbe also started the second game against New Zealand in Montreal before being replace by McLeod.

    Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com

    On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest

    Share this article in your social network Advertisement

    Story continues below

    This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! Comments

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsâ€"you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

    0 Response to "Tougher test for Canada in second game of Celebration Tour"

    Post a Comment

    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)