Canada had their hearts broken by stubborn team defence and a dash of magic from Deyna Castellanos in the final group game of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016. Venezuela scored their first goal in the 30^th minute when Deyna Castellanos scored her record breaking 9^th goal in all FIFA U17 Women's World Cup tournaments. Venezuela were reduced to 10 players in the 37th minute after Nikol Gonzalez was shown her second yellow card. The lead was doubled in the 74th minute, Yerliane Moreno sweeping in a rebound. Canada were able to hit the crossbar twice in the game, but were not able to score the goals they needed.

FIRST HALF:

Venezuela showed their intent in the opening minutes, looking to advance through the play of wingers Jeismar Cabeza and Maria Carzorla. They weren't afraid to go long with their passes, likely looking to get the dangerous Deyna Castellanos behind the Canadian backline. The first sight of goal came in the third minute when Hilary Vergara nodded a header wide after a cleared corner was put back into the penalty box.

Canada didn't look rattled with Venezuela's passionate start, continuing to patiently hold possession and build play from the defence before moving forward. Lauren Raimondo came within inches of opening the scoring in the 6^th minute when Deanne Rose fed the forward into the left side of the penalty area. Raimondo, making her first start in the tournament, turned her defender and in one smooth motion ripped a shot towards the roof of the net. Nayluisa Caceres did just enough to deflect the flight of the ball onto the underside of the bar, and Canada were into the groove of the game.

Julia Grosso did well in the 11^th minute, chasing an intercepted throw in and winning possession back high up on the left flank. Her pass was rolled back to the top of the box, where it just eluded the outstretched leg of the advancing Marika Guay.

Venezuela won a free kick in a dangerous area in the 15th minute, out on the right flank. The ball was floated in towards Sandra Luzardo and her blue mohican. Lysianne Proulx had to be strong to punch the ball over the crossbar under pressure from the Venezuelan centre-back.

Hilary Vergara was the first yellow card in the 16th minute for pulling back Deanne Rose when she was looking to get inside the full back on a Sarah Stratigakis through ball.

Vital Kats and Nikol Gonzalez were both shown yellow cards in the 25th minute for tussling with one another whilst the play was dead.

Deyna Castellanos opened the scoring in the 30th minute with an incredible piece of skill. Facing away from goal, she fielded a pass on her chest from Yerliane Moreno on the edge of the penalty area. A lightning quick turn with the inside of her heel brought her enough space to lash the ball into the right side of the goal. The marker was her ninth in FIFA U17 Women's World Cup tournaments, the most all-time.

Canadian captain Stratigakis came close to equalizing in the 36th minute when she stood over a free-kick some 30 yards out from goal. Her strike towards the top right corner looked to be dipping under the bar, but stayed just too high and ended up nestling in the top of the net.

Venezuela were reduced to 10 players in the 37th minute when Nikol Gonzalez was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Kats.

Emma Regan took off on a thundering run in the 39^th minute, carrying the ball deep into the Venezuelan defensive third and drifting towards the centre of the field. She exchanged passes with Kats on the edge of the area before looking to play a reverse ball behind the defence for Raimondo, but it was deflected out of the forwards path and collected by Caceres in the net.

The half ended with Venezuela leading 1-0, but Canada were starting to exploit the extra space they were afforded following the dismissal of Gonzalez.

SECOND HALF:

Both teams made changes to their teams at half-time, Venezuela bringing on defensive support in Galdysmar Rojas and Canada a the fresh legs of Jayde Riviere.

Despite being down a player Venezuela came out looking determined to keep playing attacking soccer. They had a sight of goal in the 49th minute after the 14 year old Maria Carzorla won a free-kick on the left flank. Deyna Castellanos stood up and fired an ambitious effort at goal that came very close to dipping in to the top right corner.

Substitute Jayde Riviere was shown a yellow card in the 51st minute for a foul on Carzorla as she was looking to win the ball back high up the field.

Grosso and Rose combined well in 57th minute. The left back was afforded the space to advance 40 yards with the ball at her feet before feeding Rose down the left wing. Rose was able to get around the outside of Heliamar Alvarado, but her cross into the six yard box was cut out by an alert Nayluisa Caceres.

Vital Kats had the crossbar ringing in the 62nd minute. Picking up a loose ball outside the area following a free-kick, the midfielder leaned back and looped an attempt at goal. It looked as if it was ballooning over the bar but it dropped out of the sky, clattering the crossbar before hurriedly being ushered out for a corner by the Venezuelan defence.

Heliamar Alvarado had her name taken by the referee in the 66th minute for time-wasting on a throw in. Deyna Castellanos was similarly punished in the 68th minute.

Venezuela extended their lead to two in the 74th minute. Deyna Castellanos was able to chase a bouncing ball down the left channel and unleash a powerful shot on target. Lysianne Proulz was equal to the first attempt, but her save was parried out to the centre of the penalty area, where Yerliane Moreno had joined the attack. She was able to stretch out and guide the rebound into the bottom right corner, making the game 2-0 for Venezuela.

Canada nearly clawed one back two minutes later, substitute Jordyn Huitema getting into a dangerous position in the right side of the penalty area. Her shot across was pulled wide of the left post and just evaded the supporting Deanne Rose.

Canada were still probing the area with regularity, but the composed and organized Venezuelan defence were proving obdurate opposition. Julia Grosso was able to get a free-kick on target in the 83rd minute, but it was from all of 30 yards out and was tracked by Caceres the whole way.

Grosso was involved again a minute later, forcing Hilary Vergara to slip and using the space to send in a good cross towards the waiting Deanne Rose and Huitema. Rose was able to connect with the pass, but her header slid wide of the right hand post.

Yerliane Moreno was shown a yellow card in the 88th minute.

Substitute Anyssa Ibrahim was immediately involved in the 89th minute when a Grosso corner fell to her in the penalty area. She was able to show quick feet in the face of pressure from two defenders to nearly carve out enough space for a shooting chance, but was unable to let a shot go.

Despite Canada's dominance of the game they were unable to find the breakthrough and the game ended in a 2-0 Venezuela win.

LINEUPS & NOTES:

Canada's starting XI featured Lysianne Proulx in goal, Emma Regan at right back, Hannah Taylor and Ashley Cathro at centre back, Julia Grosso at left back, and Sarah Stratigakis (c), Vital Kats, Marika Guay, Deanne Rose, Lauren Raimondo, and Mikayla Dayes from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Bev Priestman replaced Dayes with Jayde Riviere (46'), Kats with Jordyn Huitema (69'), and Raimondo with Anyssa Ibrahim (88').

Venezuela's starting XI featured Nayluisa Caceres in goal, Heliamar Alvarado at right back, Sandra Luzardo and Veronica Herrera at centre back, Hilary Vergara at left back, and Dayana Rodriguez, Nikol Gonzalez, Maria Carzorla, Jeismar Cabeza, Yerliane Moreno, and Deyna Castellanos (c) in midfield through to attack.

Coach Kenneth Zseremeta made two substitutions, Gladysmar Rojas replacing Jeismar Cabeza at half-time Icies Bricino replacing Maria Carzorla in the 91st minute.