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1st FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship Canada 2002

Championnat du Monde de Football Feminin U-19 de la FIFA

NEWS

August 24, 2002

Canada makes it three in a row, ready now for the Old Country

by Colin A. Aldis

Match 18: Group A: NIGERIA v CANADA, Edmonton, 22-8-02

Although Nigeria made the hosts struggle at times, Canada did enough to win 2-0, thanks to Christine Sinclair adding to her impressive list of goals.

Nigeria had needed a win, to reach 4 points, and a positive goal difference to stay in the tournament, especially as Japan had just pulled off a great victory and to leapt into 2nd place in the group. Denmark would be watching with anguish, as a Nigeria win would send them home along with France.

Once again the weather was perfect in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. Canada had the better of the early play, but it was well known that Nigeria were dangerous on the counter-attack. Kara Lang was sent clear after 9 minutes, when a ball forward was headed on by Michelle Rowe, but the young striker could not hit the target with a shot from 15 meters, as the Nigerian keeper rushed out to close down. Then Christine Sinclair sent over a cross from the left, but a header by Kara Lang went just wide of the right post.

In the 23rd minute, Canada were awarded a penalty when a free kick from the left should have been easily caught by Francisca Agbara, but she let it slip. Trying to redeem herself she tackled Sasha Andrews in such a way that the Canadian defender went over, and the referee gave the foul. After a slight delay, during which the keeper was shown the yellow card, Christine Sinclair showed her composure by hitting the spot kick into the left side of the goal for 1-0.

Canada continued to have more of the play, and a free kick by Carmelina Moscato somehow found it’s way through a group of players into the goal area where Akudo Sabi had to clear it from close to the goal-line. There were three more chances for Canada before the break, but both Christine Sinclair and Kara Lang missed the target.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with more chances being created by the home team, with Brittany Timko testing the Nigerian keeper. Then a superb long cross from the right found Michelle Rowe, but her header looped high and wide of the left post.

On the hour mark, Nigeria were awarded a free kick some 30 meters from goal, but Akudo Sabi powered the ball over the bar. Nigerian captain Iffy Chiejine looked like one who might secure some points for her team, but another shot from 25 meters flew wide of the right post. A possible turning point of the match arrived a few minutes later, when Iffy Chiejine was clean through on goal but her rising shot was brilliantly caught by Erin McCleod. Within 90 seconds Canada had a 2-0 lead, thanks to a great corner on the right by Melanie Booth. At the near post, Christine Sinclair rose above everyone to head the ball from a couple of meters out against the underside of the bar. It flew down and hit the arm of Francisca Agbara and bounced into the net to seal the victory.

Two more good chances for Canada soon followed. Kara Lang hit an angled shot against the inside of the left post after a cross from the left by Christine Sinclair. The Canadian captain then moved forward to create a chance for Katie Thorlakson but she shot tamely at the Nigerian keeper. Towards the end, Nigeria had chances to close the deficit but Erin McCleod saved from Iffy Chiejine, and then she hit a shot wide of the right post.

So Canada had consolidated their position at the top of the group with three wins, and would no doubt be looking forward to the visit of England, only the second time the countries have met at any level, after the seniors met in the World Cup in Sweden in 1995.

Nigeria would be heading home, after just one point from their 3 matches. They showed plenty of potential, and perhaps suffered from a lack of international experience compared with the teams they had just met. Although they will likely get some pressure from South Africa, the team will probably be back next time.