Edmonton, Alberta - Canada's Women's Under-19 National Team clinched a quarter-final berth with a 4-0 win over Japan in their second game in Group A at the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Tuesday night.

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In front of another large crowd of 15,714, Christine Sinclair scored what was arguably the goal of the tournament thus far, when she gathered a clearance by Sasha Andrews and drilled a spectacular shot to the far post past lunging Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto in the 9th minute.



Yukari Kinga had Japan's best scoring chance when her shot/cross glanced off the Canadian crossbar early in the game.



Canada had a great chance to add to their lead in the 34th minute when Katie Thorlakson set up Amy Vermeulen in the box but her shot was straight at Fukumoto.



Sinclair scored Canada's second, and her third of the tournament, when she took a pass from Candace Chapman in first half injury time and struck a left-footed shot past Fukumoto and inside the far post. Chapman had made a run from deep within her own half before sliding the ball towards Thorlakson, who sold the defender with a clever dummy to send Sinclair clear on goal.



Kara Lang made it 3-0 when she controlled a deep cross by Carmelina Moscato and hammered her shot past Tomomi Akiyama who had substituted for Fukumoto a mere two minutes earlier and had yet to touch the ball. She added her second, and her third of the tournament, when she headed home a perfect corner from Vermeulen in the 69th minute.



Erin McLeod earned her first shutout of the tournament with yet another confident and assured performance. Though she did not see much action, she handled everything cleanly.



In the earlier Group A game, Denmark edged Nigeria 2-1. Canada sits atop the standing with six points in two games while Denmark is second with three while Nigeria edges Japan for third place on goals for.



The Canadians, who have now won 11 straight games, face Nigeria in their third and final round robin game on Thursday, August 22 at 8:00 p.m. MT while Japan plays Denmark at 5:45 p.m. MT.



Tuesday, August 20, 2002 - FIFA U19 Women's World Championship

Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, Alberta

Attendance: 15,714

Canada \t\t4 (2)

Japan\t\t0 (0)

Goals: Canada: Christine Sinclair (9, 45+), Kara Lang (53, 69)

Cautions: Canada: Caroline Vaillancourt (79); Japan: Maiko Nasu (63)

Referee: Floarea Ionescu (ROM)

Assistant Referees: Katazyna Nadolska (POL), Airlie Keen (AUS)

Fourth Official: Dianne Ferreira-James (GUY)

Canada: Erin McLeod, Sasha Andrews, Carmelina Moscato (Michelle Rowe, 60), Amy Vermeulen (Myriam Gousse, 76), Clare Rustad, Candace Chapman, Christine Sinclair (Captain), Melanie Booth, Kara Lang, Katie Thorlakson (Caroline Vaillancourt, 60), Brittany Timko. Head coach: Ian Bridge

Japan: Miho Fukumoto (GK) (Tomomi Akiyama, 51), Maiko Nasu (Kaori Kasai, 65), Ryoko Tatsumi (Sinobu Ohno, 81), Yuka Miyazaki (Captain), Kana Watanabe, Akiko Sudo, Yukari Kinga, Ayako Kitamoto, Eri Momotake, Karina Maruyama, Akiko Niwata, . Head coach: Shinobu Ikeda