Canada has opened the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship with a 2:0 victory over group opponent Trinidad and Tobago. The Thursday night win secured three points for Canada on the opening night at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Sarah Kinzner and Martina Loncar were the goal scorers, with a goal coming on either side of the break. Rylee Foster and her defence posted the clean sheet.

Canada carried the bulk of the play, getting in behind their opponents' four- (and sometimes five-) player backline. Canada fired 10 shots on target and hit the post once.

Canada opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Kinzner receiving her pass, turning and staying on her feet, and then firing a left-footed blast past the goalkeeper Rebecca Almandoz.

In the buildup to the goal, there was some nice work in the midfield by 16-year old Sarah Stratigakis before she played the ball to fellow midfielder Ashley Moreira. Moreira then quickly moved the ball forward to Kinzner who gave Canada the 1-0 lead.

Canada nearly made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark, but striker Taylor Pryce was stopped by the post. Pryce had collected the ball after a Trinidad and Tobago mistake, but was stopped first by the post and then by a central defender on the rebound attempt to double the Canadian lead.

Canada created more chances in the second half, but waited until the final 10 minutes to get their second of the match. In the 82nd minute from a Sura Yekka run down the right side, the cross passed through the legs of Camilla Shymka before Loncar blasted it into the back of the net.

LINEUPS

Canada’s starting XI featured Rylee Foster in goal, Victoria Pickett at right back, Bianca St-Georges (captain) and Mika Richards at centre back, Marike Mousset at left back, and Ashley Moreira, Sarah Stratigakis, Sarah Kinzner, Alex Lamontagne, Anyssa Ibrahim, and Taylor Pryce from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, U-20 coach Daniel Worthington replaced Pickett with Sura Yekka (66'), Lamontagne with Martina Loncar (70'), and Pryce with Camilla Shymka (81').

Trinidad and Tobago’s starting XI featured Rebecca Almandoz in goal, Shaunalee Govia at right back, Amaya Ellis, Naomie Guerra, and Renee Mike at centre back, Sawsha Woznuk at left back, and Kelsey Henry, Shanelle Arjoon, Chevonne John, Kedia Johnson, and Tsaianne Leander from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, U-20 coach Jason Spence replaced Johnson with Raenah Campbell (46'), Leander with Laurelle Theodore (66'), and Henry with Ranae Ward (77').

MATCH NOTES

Six Canadian players made their debut in an official youth competition (FIFA or CONCACAF), with Alex Lamontagne, Ashley Moreira, Taylor Pryce and Marike Mousset starting and Martina Loncar and Camilla Shymka entering the match as substitutes.

Attendance was 475 spectators for the match featuring Canada and then 1,075 for the match featuring the hosts Honduras against Jamaica (a 2:2 draw). There were some terrific cheers during the Canada win, after which the Canadian players saluted the Honduran fans that cheered for Canada.