Yongchuan, Chongqing | Olympic Sports Center
Attendance: 16802
Ashley Lawrence
Sophie Schmidt
Robyn Gayle
Rhian Wilkinson
Nichelle Prince
Christabel Oduro
CAN WNT (1-0) goal scored by Adriana Leon.
Adriana Leon
Kaylyn Kyle
Desiree Scott
Caution: Buchanan, Kadeisha (CAN WNT)
Kadeisha Buchanan
Tiffany Cameron
Jodi-Ann Robinson
Chelsea Stewart
Bryanna McCarthy
KO
HT
60 ' | Chelsea Stewart - Bryanna McCarthy
60 ' | Tiffany Cameron - Jodi-Ann Robinson
63 ' | Kadeisha Buchanan
66 ' | Kaylyn Kyle - Desiree Scott
75 ' | Adriana Leon
80 ' | Nichelle Prince - Christabel Oduro
80 ' | Robyn Gayle - Rhian Wilkinson
88 ' | Ashley Lawrence - Sophie Schmidt
FT
Canada opened its 2013 season in style with a 1:0 win over China PR in the opening match of the 2013 Yongchuan Cup in Yongchuan, China.
Senior debutant Adriana Leon scored the lone goal of the game to earn Canada the win in front of a crowd of 16,812 at the Yongchuan Olympic Center.
Erin McLeod kept the clean sheet for Canada.
China started the match the stronger of the two sides and had a number of close chances in the opening half-hour.
The home team’s best opportunity fell to Zhang Rui who hit a volley from close range which promoted an excellent save from McLeod to keep things at 0:0.
The Canadians improved as the match went on and managed to control a greater percentage of the match towards the end of the first half but John Herdman’s side were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities in the first half.
Canada’s good play continued early in the second half and was eventually rewarded with the goal in the 75th minute.
Leon intercepted a misplaced cross-field ball and forced her defender to the edge of the area where she unleashed a firm drive past Zhang Yue in goal for China.
The goal was Leon’s first of her international career.
Fellow debutant Nichelle Prince had Canada’s best chance to go 2:0 ahead when she latched onto a pass form Robyn Gayle inside the area – but her first-time effort was well saved by Yue.
China never really threatened as it searched for an equalizer and Canada hung on to win comfortably.
The match featured six Canadian players making their first appearance for the senior team.
Canada started the match with Erin McLeod in goal; Rhian Wilkinson, Kadeisha Buchanan, Lauren Sesselmann and Bryanna McCarthy across the back-line; Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt and Diana Matheson through the midfield; and Christabel Oduro, Jodi-Ann Robinson and Adriana Leon up front.
Diana Matheson captained the team in Christine Sinclair’s absence.
Substitutes Chelsea Stewart, Tiffany Cameron, Kaylyn Kyle, Nichelle Prince, Robyn Gayle and Ashley Lawrence entered the match in the second half.
Christabel Oduro and Kadeisha Buchanan received yellow cards in the match.
China’s starting XI featured: Zhang Yue, Li Jiayue, Wu Haiyan, Zeng Ying, Wang Lingling, Pu Wei, Han Peng, Wang Lisi, Ren Guizin, Zhang Rui and Li Ying.
Substitutes Lou Jiahui, Ma Xiaoxu, Zhou Feifei and Wang Shuang enter the match in the second half.
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