Gayle makes 50th appearance for Canada

Canada’s Robyn Gayle has made her 50th appearance for Canada’s national team. Gayle reached the milestone in the semi-final stage of the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 Women’s Football Tournament. Gayle entered the 25 October 2011 match as a substitute for Rhian Wilkinson in the 58th minute.



Ultimately, Gayle made the biggest impact on the match: she scored the game winner in the 88th minute of the 2:1 victory over Colombia. Off a long Lauren Sesselmann free kick into the Colombian box, Gayle controlled the ball and volleyed it into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead. It was the first goal of her international career.



Gayle, 25, is in her sixth season with Canada’s national team. She made her debut back on 25 June 2006 in a Women’s International Friendly match in Toronto (a 2:1 victory over Italy). Gayle becomes the 24th player to reach the milestone for Canada.



Gayle’s experience includes participation in two FIFA Women’s World Cups (China 2007 and Germany 2011) and one Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (Beijing 2008). She won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, but then missed the 2007 edition because of an injury. At the youth level, she participated in two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups (silver at Canada 2002 and fifth place at Thailand 2004).