Canada move to top of Group B with Wednesday win at FIFA World Cup

Canada moved into first place at the top of Group B with a come-from-behind 2:1 victory over the Republic of Ireland at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. The Wednesday win in Perth gives Canada four points after two matches in Australia, with second-place Australia yet to face Nigeria in their second group match at Brisbane on Thursday. Adriana Leon scored the match winner after a wonderful pass forward by five-time FIFA World Cup veteran Sophie Schmidt.

“That’s what I love about this team, they know how to win and they did it when it really mattered,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach.

Match centre : https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-past/?matchId=3347

The Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe opened the scoring in the fourth minute, the earliest goal ever scored against Canada at the FIFA World Cup. McCabe scored her opener on an Olimpico, a goal direct from the corner kick for the first-ever goal by her nation at the FIFA World Cup. Late in the first half, a Julia Grosso shot was redirected by Megan Connolly for an own goal equaliser.

Leon scored the match winner eight minutes into the second half after Quinn outmuscled a trio of Irish players and then Schmidt played through a precise pass to Leon in the box. Leon took her touch, held off the defender and put it past goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan. It was both Leon’s first FIFA World Cup goal and Schmidt’s first FIFA World Cup assist.

“We pulled together in that second half,” said goalscorer Adriana Leon. “We just needed to get on the ball a little more and live on it and bring our confidence. We did that.”

Canada coach Priestman picked up her first FIFA World Cup win as a Head Coach while Jessie Fleming got her first FIFA World Cup start wearing the captain’s armband. It was also Canada’s first come-from-behind victory at the FIFA World Cup since their 3:1 win over Japan in the group phase at USA 2003. It marks the third tournament in a row that Canada have opened the FIFA World Cup undefeated across their first two matches.

“I think we are just happy to pick up the three points and happy with our response in the second half,” said Jessie Fleming. “It’s tournament football, so every team is going to be difficult to play against. Ireland gave us a good challenge today so we’re happy to get our three points.”

Across Canada, every match will be broadcast live on CTV, TSN and RDS, with extended coverage of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team from CanadaSoccer.com to Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Twitter and Youtube featuring the hashtags #CANWNT and #WeCAN. There are 24 Carlsberg’s Official Canadian Supporter Locations at pubs and bars across Canada to support the Women’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup. On the day before each match in Australia, Canada Soccer House events presented by CIBC in Melbourne and Perth will create a vibrant rallying point for all those supporting Canada in Australia.

Canada will face the co-hosts Australia in the group finale in Melbourne on Monday 31 July (20.00 local / 06.00 ET / 03.00 PT). From Group B, the Round of 16 matches are Monday 7 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Quarterfinals are Saturday 12 August (Brisbane or Sydney), the Semifinals are Wednesday 16 August (Sydney), and the Final is Sunday 20 August (Sydney).

CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada are Olympic champions (Tokyo 2020), two-time bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016), and two-time Concacaf champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in eight consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2023) and four consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2021). At Tokyo 2020, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team became the first Canadian team to win three consecutive medals at the Summer Olympic Games and just the third nation in the world to win three medals in women’s soccer.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for nine editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all seven editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).

CAN 2 : 1 IRL
2023-07-27 Perth, Australia
Perth Rectangular Stadium att.17,065
Referee / Arbitre : Laura Fortunato (Mariana De Almeida, Daiana Milone, Akhona Makalima)

IRL 4′ Katie McCabe (CK left foot / pied gauche) 1-0
CAN 45’+5 IRL own goal / but contre son camp 1-1 (o.g.)
CAN 53′ Adriana Leon (left foot / pied gauche) 2-1 (a.Sophie Schmidt)

CANADA –  1 GK Kailen Sheridan; 8 Jayde Riviere (2 Allysha Chapman 90’+4), 3 Kadeisha Buchanan (22 Lysianne Proulx HT), 14 Vanessa Gilles, 10 Ashley Lawrence (4 Shelina Zadorsky HT), 5 Quinn, 17 Jessie Fleming capt., 7 Julia Grosso (13 Sophie Schmidt HT), 11 Evelyne Viens (12 Christine Sinclair HT),19 Adriana Leon (20 Cloé Lacasse 58′), 9 Jordyn Huitema. Coach / Entraîneure Bev Priestman. Unused substitutes / substituts non utilisés: 18 GK Sabrina D’Angelo; 6 Deanne Rose, 15 Nichelle Prince, 16 Gabrielle Carle, 21 Simi Awujo, 23 Olivia Smith.

Performance of the Match / Performance du match:
Sophie Schmidt