Canada wins Brazil tournament

For more information on this fixture, please visit the following match report.



Canada won its third women’s international soccer tournament of the 2010 season, this time the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo in Brazil. In the championship final, Canada extended its unbeaten streak to 10 matches with a 2:2 draw against the host. Both Canada and Brazil finished the tournament with two wins and two draws, but Canada lifted the trophy on account of the greater goal differential in four matches.



It was Canadian captain Christine Sinclair who made the difference once again. This time down to 10 players following an ejection and a 2-1 Brazil lead on a Marta penalty goal, Sinclair scored less than 10 minutes from the final whistle to secure the point and capture the championship.



It marks the third-straight championship match – for club and country – in which Sinclair has scored the decisive goal. She scored the winner in the WPS championship final in September (FC Gold Pride), the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier final in November (where Canada qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup), and the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo in December. Sinclair was also part of Canada’s Cyprus Cup championship team in March.



“I thought I would hit it as hard as I could and it went in,” said Sinclair. “It just came back to me perfectly, (the ball was) set it up nicely for a one-time shot.”



In the other match on Sunday 19 December, Netherlands defeated Mexico for the second-straight match, this time a 2:1 victory. The final standings were Canada, Brazil, Netherlands and Mexico. Marta was the top scorer of the tournament with six goals (two in the final) while Sinclair was second with four goals.



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, tied a national record with its 10th straight match without a loss (8 wins and 2 draws since the 3:1 victory over China PR at BMO Field on 30 September). The team finished the 2010 season with its best statistical season ever: 13 wins, three draws and just two losses.