Lysianne Proulx put in a terrific performance in net as Canada weathered a second-half storm to hold a 1:1 with Germany in their second group match at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016. The Canadians opened the scoring in the 20th minute, Deanne Rose capitalizing on two defensive miscues to delicately finish in the top right corner. Giulia Gwinn equalised for the Germans with a free kick in the last minute of the first half.
FIRST HALF:
The game started testily, with Canada looking to build play from the defence and Julia Grosso doing well to repel attacks down her flank from opposite full-back Sarai Linder. Canada got an early look at goal when Jayde Riviere played a wonderfully delicate ball that bisected the
German centre-backs perfectly in the 5th minute. Deanne Rose was alive to the pass but couldn't get enough power behind her shot to trouble Leonie Doege in the German goal.
Germany had a dangerous counter attack in the 15th minute, Klara Buehl putting a very tempting through ball into the Canadian area for her compatriot to chase. Lysianne Proulx was alert, however, and dashed off her line to claim the ball from the feet of the onrushing attacker.
Canada took the lead through Deanne Rose just one minute later. Vital Kats looked to play a through ball from deep in the midfield for the Rose, who was rushing through the centre of the field. The outside of the foot pass was misplayed by Tanja Pawollek, and Rose kept chasing, beating off a weak challenge from Doege in the goal. She still had a lot to do, as she was facing away from goal with the angle tightening as the ball ran towards the left side of the penalty area. Rose was able to catch the loose ball and turn on it, looping a lobbed shot over two covering defenders and putting the ball into the top right corner. Canada were 1-0 ahead with 20 minutes played.
Both teams struggled to get a solid grip on the game, and neither were creating chances consistently, or posing a threat to the opposite goal. Rose looked the most likely route for another Canadian breakthrough, as they probed the space on the wings, but the German full-backs defended resolutely and didn't offer any opportunities to exploit.
Giulua Gwinn nearly took advantage of a slip in the 35th minute, turning well at the top of the box and getting a sight on goal. Her shot was dragged wide of the left-hand post, watched the whole way by Proulx in the Canadian net.
The Canadian captain Sarah Stratigakis had her name taken by the referee in the 42nd minute when she was judged to have broken up a German counter-attack unfairly.
Germany were growing in confidence as the half wore on, and in the 45th minute Linder fired in a cross that Buehl managed to control. She turned and fired one shot that was blocked well by Hannah Taylor, but was able to rein in the rebound and take another shot straight away, this one saved by an advancing Proulx.
Germany drew level in the 47th minute when Giulia Gwinn scored from a direct free kick. The dead ball was right on the eighteen yard line on the left side of the box, and the German no.7 fired it sharply into the bottom right corner. It was the last kick of the half, and tied the game up at 1-1.
SECOND HALF:
The teams came out unchanged for the second period, and Germany looked to continue in the same strong manner they finished the first half. They took several long range shots in the opening exchanges, but didn't get any of them on target, and any attempt to work the ball into the area was handily dealt with by the Canadian defence.
Lysianne Proulx was on hand in the 54th minute when a pass from Schoeppl did make it into the area. She raced off her line to challenge for the ball at the feet of Sydney Lohmann, and the ball was subsequently cleared by Grosso. Just two minutes later Proulx was needed to make a strong save at her near post when Gwinn got some space on the left channel.
Substitute Lauren Raimondo turned Kleinherne well in the 68th minute and drove towards goal. The German centre back pulled her back, giving up a free kick and earning a yellow card. Stratigakis took the strike, but it cannoned off the wall.
Buehl, Gwinn, and Wieder continued to craft good chances, but a combination of defensive blocks, good goalkeeping, and offensive profligacy kept the score tied at 1-1 when the drinks break came in the 75th minute.
Canada were able to get a corner in the 85th minute, when Laroche hounded Siems into conceding the set-piece opportunity. The ball was swung in and Hannah Taylor was again a threat, but this time the defender was unable to direct her header on target.
Proulx was again outstanding in goal in the first minute of injury time. Gwinn floated a cross from the right channel to the left edge of the six yard box where it was met by a diving Lohmann. The header back towards the right post looked to have wrong-footed the Canadian keeper, but she was able to make a desperate dive to her left, getting two hands to it and clearing it away.
That was the final save Proulx would have to make in the game, as Canada held on to draw the game 1-1 and claim a point.
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, Jordyn Huitema, and Jayde Riviere from the midfield up through to the attack.
In the second half, coach Bev Priestman replaced Riviere with Florence Laroche (58), Huitema with Lauren Raimondo (64’), and Kats with Caitlin Shaw (89’).
Germany's starting XI featured Leonie Doege in goal, Sarai Linder at right back, Sophia Kleinherne and Tanja Pawollek at centre back, Caroline Siems at left back, and Giulia Gwinn, Janina Minge (c), Sydney Lohmann, Verena Wieder, Klara Buehl, and Lisa Schoeppl in midfield through to attack.
Coach Anouschka Bernhard made just one substitution, as Verena Wieder was replaced by Gina Chmielinski in the 86th minute