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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 28, 2002

Canada and their Captain Marvel hit England for six .......another English view

by Colin A. Aldis

Although it was at senior level, the only time these two British Commonwealth countries have met was at the 1995 World Cup Finals in Sweden when England won 3-2 in a rather controversial match. For England national team coach Hope Powell, the only one of the visiting squad who was there on that day compared with a few on the Canadian side watching from the air-conditioned media area, this was destined to be the home team’s day.

This time in the superb Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on another beautiful and warm day, both sides could select their most favoured players but it was Canada captain Christine Sinclair who could do no wrong. She modestly admitted that she was almost embarrassed (but highly delighted) to score 5 times in a big international match. No amount of homework for or against this University of Portland soccer student (ironically coached by one of most famous British ex-pats) could have prepared her for such an amazing performance of finishing. She also told the media that she did not read the papers which had photos and articles of her splashed across them.

A corner on the left by Carmelina Moscato, the height of the captain with little challenge, headed home from 3 metres, 1-0.

To England’s credit they stuck to a game plan, which at least virtually cancelled out the threat of Kara Lang, and there were chances to equalise, but Erin McCleod who is looking like the best keeper in Canada, saved well at the feet of little but fast Ellen Maggs. Then she dived full length to catch a lobbed shot by Katy Ward, and then brilliantly pushed away an angled shot from the right to deny Katy Ward again. It was arguably a turning point, as

a couple of minutes later, Emily Westwood looked to start an England break, but played the ball to Carmelina Moscato. Her quick forward pass to the left found, who else, Christine Sinclair who ran away, full composure, slotted the ball passed Toni-Anne Wayne for 2-0. The last 7 minutes of the half was one way traffic, with Kara Lang blasting over from close range, and even Christine Sinclair sending a header over the bar from just a few metres, after a corner on the right. Then Kara Lang struck another shot over the bar, but it did not really matter, as it was 3-0 moments later, a ball forward into the area not being dealt with, and a little Christine Sinclair touch enabled Katie Thorlakson to get space for a low shot which went passed Toni-Anne Wayne and into the net.

In two of their previous matches here in Canada, England had scored soon after the restart, and they needed that effort again, but this time it did not happen, although Leanne Champ managed to get over a cross from the right, Kelly McDougall could only touch the ball into the side-netting. Canada made a change for the 2^nd half, perhaps surprisingly taking off Kara Lang, but showing maturity beyond her almost 16 years, she admitted she had not played too well, in words which obviously meant something to the locals, but not to the old country ‘gentleman’. Anyway, she will be raring to go for the semi-final, and was replaced by Caroline Vaillancourt.

Another set-play, and another goal, this time a free kick on the left, floated into the area, and a header on by Carmelino Moscato to find Christine Sinclair who was surely offside (clutching at straws) but she lobbed it from the left, over the England keeper and in. More chances followed, but Toni-Anne Wayne made two, and a couple went wide.

In the 65th minute, there was a glimmer of hope, Ellen Maggs making a chance for herself with her speed, and a great rising shot flying into the top right corner. Some pride was restored when Fara Williams curled in a free kick from the right, behind a static defence, and Jess Wright headed goalwards, but Erin McCleod dived right and pushed it away, but not strongly enough, and Emily Westwood who has appeared to improve through the tournament, touch it home from a couple of metres, 4-2. The next 9 minutes were mostly England pushing forward, and Laura Bassett headed a free kick from the right into the side netting at the far post. To show how important the Canadian captain is to her team, she then headed the ball away at the near post, from a corner by Kelly McDougall.

Just over 100 seconds later, she had added to the scoreline, Carmelina Moscato again being the supplier of a ball forward, and there she was, behind the defence, to lift it over the England keeper from the right from 14 metres, 5-2.

Sadly for the visiting team, it was not over yet, in stoppage time, Caroline Vaillancourt hit a shot over, and then Christine Sinclair was away again, but decided to pass the shooting responsibility to Michelle Rowe who was in a better position. But her rising shot from 15 metres was superbly pushed sideways by Toni-Anne Wayne, such that the ball hit the right post, and it rebounded to the captain, whose return low shot went under the England keeper, giving Canada the 6-2 win.

Not surprisingly, there was joy for the ‘Canucks’ and some tears from a few of the England players. Despite the heavy loss, there was a lot of praise for the team, the way they tried to play and put some pressure on their opponents.

The England staff and players will have to learn the outcome of the tournament from their homes, as it will be late on Sunday evening when one team has lifted the new trophy. Such is the UEFA competition at this age level, that many of the players would soon be back to training for the 2002-03 version, as England will travel to Bulgaria in early October.

The 3 goalscoring trophies (shoes) and 3 MVP awards will most likely go to players in the semi-finals, and the Fair Play Award

is up for grabs, especially as both England and USA were given their first cautions during the quarter-finals.