Canada won their Algarve Cup group through a 1:0 win over first-time opponents Iceland in the third and final group match at the 2016 international women's competition. Canada's 21-year old striker Janine Beckie scored the game winner after a wonderful give-and-go set up from Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt.

Heading into the 7 March group finale, Canada needed the win to clinch first place and qualify for the 9 March Grand Final. Canada took their lead in the 41st minute and never looked back. For young Beckie, it was her sixth international goal in 14 matches.

Canada's 20-year old goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, making her international "A" debut, posted the clean sheet with the help of her stalwart defence.

Canada played their first half into the wind. After a reported slow start, Iceland's goalkeeper Sandra Sigurðardóttir was called to make a good save midway through the first half. She was applauded for another save in the 37th minute with the scoreline still 0-0. Sigurðardóttir's clean sheet, however, would only last another four minutes until Beckie would break the deadlock in the 41st minute.

On the attack. Sinclair initiated a give-and-go with Schmidt, with Schmidt taking one touch before feeding a back heel to the circling Sinclair now charging into the box with Arna Sif Arngrímsdóttir spun and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir chasing. With Arngrímsdóttir, Brynjarsdóttir and Anna Björk Kristjánsdóttir all trying to shut the running Sinclair down, the Canadian captain drifted a pass right to the oncoming Beckie who blasted a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Sigurðardóttir.

Into the second half, Sigurðardóttir continued with her fine play as Canada sought to double their lead. Canada, however, was holding all the cards and excited the crowd with several attacks. At the end of the day, only the one Canadian goal would be required in the 1:0 win for first place.

CANADA-ICELAND LINEUPS:
Canada’s starting XI featured Kailen Sheridan in goal, Josée Bélanger at right back, Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky at centre back, Ashley Lawrence at left back, and Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt, Deanne Rose, Diana Matheson, Janine Beckie, and captain Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach John Herdman replaced Bélanger with Rhian Wilkinson (60’), Scott with Rebecca Quinn (71’), and Schmidt and Rose with Nichelle Prince and Jessie Fleming (78’).

Iceland’s starting XI featured Sandra Sigurðardóttir in goal, Guðrún Arnardóttir at right back, Arna Sif Arngrímsdóttir and Anna Björk Kristjánsdóttir at centre back, Hallbera Guðný Gísladóttir at left back, Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir (captain), and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir in the midfield, and Fanndís Friðriksdóttir, Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir, and Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir in the attack. 

In the second half, coach Freyr Alexandersson replaced Thorsteinsdóttir with Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir (62’), Magnúsdóttir and Friðriks­dótt­ir with Elín Metta Jensen and Sandra María Jessen (67’), and Arngrímsdóttir and Brynjarsdótt­ir with Glódís Perla Viggósdóttirand and Andrea Rán Hauksdóttir (77’).

Polish referee Monika Mularczyk booked both Buchanan (30’) and Gísladóttir (84’) on either side of the break. In the case of Buchanan, it was her 11th yellow card in 52 career international matches.

BALANCED ATTACK
With her third goal this calendar year, Janine Beckie is the seventh different Canadian player with three goals in 2016. It marks the first time in program history that so many players have scored three or more times in a season, with the previous high of six different players in both 2000 and 2003. The seven players with three goals in 2016 are Beckie, Ashley Lawrence, Nichelle Prince, Rebecca Quinn, Deanne Rose, Christine Sinclair, and Melissa Tancredi.

In all, 12 different players have scored for Canada in 2016, the biggest group since 12 different players scored in 2011. This year marks the fifth time that a dozen different players have scored for Canada, with previous groups in 2003 (14 players), 2007 (15 players), 2008 (12 players), and 2011 (12 players).