Women's National Team

3 - 0

Mexico

Natal, Brazil | Arena das Dunas

Attendance: 500

76'

Caution: Diana, Matheson (CAN WNT)
69'

Caution: Greta Espinosa (Mexico)
66'
66'
66'
Josée Bélanger
Rhian Wilkinson

66'
66'
Shelina Zadorsky
Kennedy Faulknor

66'
Caution: Rhian Wilkinson (CAN WNT) Rhian Wilkinson

55'
49'

CAN Christine Sinclair shot tipped off crossbar.
45+1'

CAN WNT Goal: Nichelle, Prince. (no assist)
Caution: Ashley, Lawrence (CAN WNT) Ashley Lawrence

43'
CAN WNT Goal: Christine, Sinclair. Assist: Rhian, Wilkinson Christine Sinclair

19'
15'

CAN WNT Goal: Christine, Sinclair. Assist: Kadeisha, Buchanan

Timeline

Women's National Team

KO

KO
15 ' |
19 ' | Christine Sinclair
43 ' | Ashley Lawrence
45+1 ' |
HT

HT
49 ' | CAN Christine Sinclair shot tipped off crossbar.
55 ' | Rhian Wilkinson
66 ' | Shelina Zadorsky - Kennedy Faulknor
66 ' | -
66 ' | Josée Bélanger - Rhian Wilkinson
66 ' | -
66 ' | -
66 ' | -
69 ' |
76 ' |
FT

FT

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Mexico

Match Report

Canada won 3:0 over Mexico in the opening match of the annual Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino, this year played at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil. Christine Sinclair scored two goals and Nichelle Prince added the third of the match.

Sinclair opened the score in the 13th minute following a free kick by Diana Matheson. Into the Mexican box, the ball came off Kadeisha Buchanan before Sinclair knocked it in for a 1-0 lead. Then six minutes later, the captain found the net again after a cross from Rhian Wilkinson in the 19th minute. Wilkinson's kick fell past the Mexican defender to the feet of Sinclair in the box.

Canada's third goal was scored in the dying minutes of the first half after Prince stopped a Mexican clearance attempt. Debutant Gabrielle Carle had fired the shot almost cleared by the Mexicans, but after the ball came out to Prince, the second effort was fired past the goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago. It was Prince's second goal in four international "A" appearances.

In the second half, Canada came close as Sinclair nearly connected for a hat trick. In the 49th minute, a Sinclair shot was tipped by Santiago off the crossbar. Sinclair headed the rebound on target, but the second attempt was again stopped.

While Canada won 3:0 over Mexico, hosts Brazil won 11:0 over Trinidad and Tobago on the opening day of the competition. With the victory, Canada improved to 10 wins, two draws, and three losses in 15 international matches in 2015. The Canada-Mexico match was played in front of 500 fans.

LINEUPS AND MATCH NOTES:
Canada's starting XI featured Stephanie Labbé in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, Kadeisha Buchanan and Kennedy Faulknor at centre back, Allysha Chapman at left back, Diana Matheson, Ashley Lawrence, and Jessie Fleming in the midfield, and Gabrielle Carle, Nichelle Prince, and captain Christine Sinclair across the attacking line.

Coach John Herdman stuck to his game plan and made six substitutions in the 66th minute, incidentally a Canadian record line change in a Women's National Team international match. Wilkinson, Faulknor, Lawrence, Carle, Sinclair, and Prince were replaced with Josée Bélanger, Shelina Zadorsky, Desiree Scott, Melissa Tancredi, Janine Beckie, and Deanne Rose.

Mexico's starting XI featured Cecilia Santiago (goal), Bianca Sierra, Janelly Farias, Greta Espinoza, Valeria Miranda, Nayeli Rangel, Teresa Noyola, Stephany Mayor, Monica Ocampo, Maribel Dominguez (captain), and Renae Cuellar.

In the second half, coach Leonardo Cuellar replaced Ocampo with Tanya Samarzich (65') and both Dominguez and Cuellar with Monica Monsivais and Alicia Johnson (75').

Four players - Lawrence (43'), Wilkinson (55') and Matheson (75') for Canada as well as Espinoza (23') for Mexico - were cautioned by referee Simone Xavier during the match.

Three young Canadians made their first international "A" appearance: Carle (17 years), Faulknor (16), and Rose (16). With Faulknor and Rose, it marked the first time that two 16-year old Canadians debuted in the same match. Also of note, Faulknor became Canada's youngest centre back to ever play for Canada (fourth youngest player ever).