This Day in Football from 12-18 March

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 12 March 2000
Sixteen-year old striker Christine Sinclair is one of five Canadians to make her international “A” debut in an 0:4 loss to China PR at the 2000 Algarve Women’s Cup. Head coach Even Pellerud also makes his debut for Canada. Along with Sinclair, it is Stefani Finateri, Randee Hermus, Kristina Kiss, and Danielle Vella who all make their debuts for Canada. Of note, China PR were FIFA Women’s World Cup silver medal winners one year earlier.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 12 March 2009
Veteran and former captain Amy Walsh makes her 102nd (and final) appearance for Canada. Canada falls 1:3 to England in the 2009 Cyprus Women’s Cup championship final. Christine Sinclair had opened the scoring for Canada before Lianne Sanderson, Kelly Smith and Fara Williams scored for England.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 14 March 2000
Canada falls 1:2 to Norway at the 2000 Algarve Women’s Cup. Breanna Boyd makes her debut for Canada. Christine Sinclair scores her first goal for Canada after taking a pass from Andrea Neil.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 14 March 2003
Canada draws 1:1 with USA at the 2003 Algarve Women’s Cup in Olhão, Portugal. Andrea Neil scores the opening goal in the seventh minute in a goal-mouth scramble after a Kristina Kiss corner kick. USA equalizes with an Aly Wagner goal in the 85th minute.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 14 March 2008
Canada draws 0:0 with France in an away Women’s International Friendly match in Bondoufle. Randee Hermus becomes the fourth player to make her 100th appearance for Canada (she wears the captain’s armband in honour of her milestone).

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 15 March 2001
Canada falls 1:2 to host Portugal at the 2001 Algarve Women’s Cup in Albufeiro. Charmaine Hooper makes her 71st appearance for Canada, matching the record established by former teammate Geraldine Donnelly. Andrea Neil becomes the fourth player to make her 50th appearance for Canada.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 16 March 1997
Canada falls 0:3 to USA in an away FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match in Palo Alto, CA. Randy Samuel becomes the first Canadian to make his 75th appearance for Canada.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 16 March 2008
Canada U-23 wins 5:0 in 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, thus securing a spot in the semi-final stage. Will Johnson and Tosaint Ricketts each score a pair of goals before Kyle Hall scores what turns out to be the deciding goal in the standings to knock off Mexico.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 17 March 2001
Charmaine Hooper sets a new national record by making her 72nd appearance for Canada (one more than former teammate Geraldine Donnelly). Canada falls 1:5 to China PR at the 2001 Algarve Women’s Cup in Faro, Portugal.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 18 March 2003
Diana Matheson makes her debut for Canada. Canada falls 0:1 to Norway at the 2003 Algarve Women’s Cup.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 18 March 2003
Canada outscores USA on kicks from the penalty mark to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010. The qualification follows a 0:0 draw through 120 minutes. Canada advances to the CONCACAF final while USA fails to qualify for a FIFA women’s tournament for the first time ever.