Nicosia, Cyprus | GSP Stadium
Attendance: 40
Rachel Quon
Rhian Wilkinson
Nkem Ezurike
Sophie Schmidt
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Robyn Gayle
Marie-Eve Nault
Brittany Timko Baxter
Josée Bélanger
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Desiree Scott
Adriana Leon
if (is_null($match_action['action_player1'])) { ?> CAN WNT Goal: Schmidt, Sophie. Assist: Wilkinson, Rhian } else { ?> Sophie Schmidt } ?>
if (is_null($match_action['action_player1'])) { ?> CAN WNT Goal: Schmidt, Sophie. Assist: Matheson, Diana } else { ?> Sophie Schmidt } ?>
Canada WNT dominate in rout of Finland
Canada’s Women’s National Team could not have put together a more confident open to the 2014 Cyprus Cup as they scored twice in the first half and once in the second to pick up a 3:0 win over Finland.
Sophie Schmidt scored the first half goals followed by an own goal in the second half as Canada was never really troubled at the other end as they cruised to a very encouraging victory.
Canada was in control for most of the first half but couldn’t find that decisive ball that would finally break down Finland until the 35th minute when midfielder Diana Matheson had the ball near the end line of the Finnish end. Matheson crossed from the right side and Schmidt time her run perfectly for a powerful volley that found the top corner.
The second came just seven minutes later with Josée Belanger finding Rhian Wilkinson’s overlapping run on the right side. Wilkinson got her head up and crossed into the penalty area and after the ball got by a few players, Schmidt was in the right place again and this time she had enough time to pick her spot before volleying in her second.
15 minutes into the second half, a Sinclair shot deflected off a Finnish player to give Canada the 3-0 lead.
Wilkinson made a slight cutback pass to Sinclair who skipped around one defender before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot that could only be partially blocked before finding the net.
Canada has one day off before getting right back to action on Friday at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca, CYP when they take on Italy. They finish the group stage Monday against England in a rematch of the 2013 tournament final.
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