Canada overpowers Haiti to open campaign in Vancouver
Posted on 19 January 2012 in Women's Olympic Football Tournament
Canada dispatched a gutsy Haiti side with a 6:0 win to open CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.
Christine Sinclair bagged four goals on the night that Canada began its qualification campaign for London 2012 in style.
Christina Julien and Kelly Parker chipped in with the additional goals as Karina LeBlanc posted a clean sheet to get Canada off to the best possible start on home soil.
Canada 2012 Highlights: Canada 6 - 0 Haiti
The match’s first half played out largely as anticipated with Canada on the front foot from the opening whistle.
Christina Julien was the first to break the Haitian resistance as she finished tidily from inside the area in the seventh minute. Kelly Parker played through Christine Sinclair who squared the ball to Julien who converted to put Canada up one-nil.
Melissa Tancredi was the next to go close for Canada as she saw her effort from the right side parried off the bar by Haitian goalkeeper Ednie Limage who was busy throughout the match.
Canada’s next breakthrough came in the 25th minute as captain Christine Sinclair powered home her 121st goal for her country. Sinclair ran free into the 18-yard-area before unleashing a firm strike that Limage was unable to control and the ball was fumbled over the line.
Tancredi had another opportunity to get in on the scoring action in the 27th minute as she turned neatly and struck a powerful shot from the top of the box but Limage this time was able to control the shot.
The one-way traffic continued for Big Red as Lauren Sesselmann rose powerfully but headed just over the bar in the 42nd minute.
It was not long, however, before Canada capitalized again as Sinclair was on the spot to finish off a delightful Canadian move in Haiti’s final third. Kelly Parker did well to send a low cross to the penalty spot for Julien who laid off a one-touch pass to Sinclair who coolly found the bottom right corner with her finish.
John Herdman’s players started the second half much to the same tune as they did in the first half, immediately taking to pressing the Haitian defence.
The first clear-cut chance of the second period landed to Chelsea Stewart from a Sophie Schmidt corner. Unfortunately for Canada, Stewart’s effort from eight yards was parried by Limage in goal.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Sinclair who was again on the spot to finish as Canada went ahead 4-0 in the 55th minute. This time around it was Melissa Tancredi who provided a sublime over-the-head touch to set Sinclair cleanly through into the box and Canada’s captain buried her third goal of the night.
Sinclair added to her tally converting a penalty to make it 5-0 for Canada the 85th minute. Kelly Parker did well to earn the opportunity as she was pulled down illegally inside the Haitian area and Sinclair converted with the greatest of ease against replacement Haitian goalkeeper Geralda Saintillius
It was Parker who in turn sealed the 6:0 victory as she found her own rebound to dispatch a deflected right-footed shot past Saintillius.
For this match Canada’s starting XI featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at rightback, Candace Chapman and Shannon Woeller at centreback, and Lauren Sesselmann at leftback. Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt, Kelly Parker, Christina Julien, Christina Sinclair and Melissa Tancred formed the midfield and attacking lines for Canada.
To start the second half, Sesselmann was replaced by Chelsea Stewart. Sophie Schmidt was the next to give way for Canada as she was replaced by Kaylyn Kyle in the 52nd minute. John Herdman then elected to bring on Chelsea Buckland as a replacement for Tancredi in the 62nd minute.
Haiti's starting XI featured Ednie Limage (goal), Carmela Aristilde, Kencia Marseille, Fiorda Charles, Wisline Dolce, Sophia Batard, Samantha Brand, Kimberly Boulos, Roselord Borgella, Manoucheka Pierre Louis and Nadia Valentin.
In the second half, coach Ronald Luxieux replaced Borgella with Lovely Placide (46'), injured goalkeeper Limage with Geralda Saintillius (66'), and Batard with Tatiana Mathelier (78').
Of note for Canada, captain Chrisine Sinclair’s four goals on the night bring her tally of international goals to 124. It was the 10th hat trick and fourth four-goal performance of Sinclair's career.
Before the match, players and fans in BC Place observed a moment of silence for Canadian Olympian Shannon Burke who passed away in advance of the match.
Attendance for the match was 7,627, the highest attendance for a women's international "A" match in the province of British Columbia.
Canada’s next match at Canada 2012 is set for Saturday 21 January at 19.30 (local kick-off) against Cuba.
