Sinclair Scores Three In 6-0 Rout Over Jamaica

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team today defeated Jamaica 6-0 with three goals by Burnaby’s Christine Sinclair in their opening game of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Costa Rica.



Canada opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Charmaine Hooper sent a long ball to an awaiting Christine Latham, who then fired a shot from five yards out to beat Jamaican goalkeeper Chantelle McClennon.



In the 39th minute, Hooper scored on a penalty kick following a foul on Diana Matheson in the penalty area.



Canada’s third goal came from Sinclair on an 18 yard shot, after receiving a pass from Matheson in the opening minute of the second half.



Sinclair scored Canada’s fourth goal in the 61st minute after taking control of an indirect free kick that caught Jamaica off guard.



In the 82nd minute, Latham gained possession of the ball deep in Jamaica’s end and passed the ball back to Carmelina Moscato who scored Canada’s fifth with a 20-yard blast, past a diving McClennon.



Sinclair would score her third of the match when she received a long ball from Randee Hermus in the dying moments of injury time. Sinclair, who was already past the Jamaican defence, easily tapped the ball into the net for her 47th career goal in 61 appearances for Canada.



“Our team put up a solid, but never spectacular performance in this opening game against Jamaica,” said head coach Even Pellerud. “The players followed the game plan by taking advantage of physical presence and tried to play a quick game without stressing. Unfortunately, it took a lot of good scoring opportunities before we scored. We need a higher level of concentration up front in the last touch on the ball.”



“On defense, our team played with sharpness and determination although our back line at times dropped too much too early in the first half.”



“Melissa Tancredi’s first cap was impressive. She adds another dimension to the team with her great vision and passing skills.”



Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc earned her 14th shutout.



Canada’s next match is against Panama on Saturday, February 28 at 1:00 p.m. CT.



In the second game of the double header, tounament host Costa Rica defeated Panama 6-1.



February 26, 2004 – CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Eladio Rosabal Cordero

San Jose, Costa Rica

Canada 6 (2)

Jamaica 0 (0)

Goals: Canada – Latham (33), Hooper (39, PK), Sinclair (46, 61, 90), Moscato (82)

Canada: 1-Karina Leblanc; 2-Christine Latham; 5-Andrea Neil (16-Brittany Timko, 71); 6-Sharolta Nonen; 10-Charmaine Hooper (C); 11-Randee Hermus; 12-Christine Sinclair; 13-Diana Matheson (3-Carmelina Moscato, 60); 15-Kara Lang (14-Aysha Jamani, 60); 17-Melissa Tancredi; 18-Tanya Dennis; Head coach: Even Pellerud.

Subs not used: 4-Veronique Maranda; 7-Isabelle Morneau; 8-Marie-Eve Nault; 9-Rhian Wilkinson; 20-Taryn Swiatek; 22-Erin McLeod



WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING RESULTS/SHEDULE



Wednesday, February 25

Mexico 5, Haiti 0

USA 7, Trinidad & Tobago 0



Thursday, February 26

Canada 6, Jamaica 0

Costa Rica 6, Panama 1



Friday, February 27

T & T vs. Mexico – Eladio Rosabal Cordero (6:00 p.m. CT)

Haiti vs. USA – Eladio Rosabal Cordero (8:00 p.m. CT)



Saturday, February 28

Canada vs. Panama – Nacional (1:00 p.m. CT)

Costa Rica vs. Jamaica – Nacional (3:00 p.m. CT)



Sunday, February 29

Haiti vs. Trinidad & Tobago – Nacional (1:00 p.m. CT)

USA vs. Mexico – Nacional (3:00 p.m. CT)



Monday, March 1

Jamaica vs. Panama – Eladio Rosabal Cordero (6:00 p.m. CT)

Costa Rica vs. Canada – Eladio Rosabal Cordero (8:00 p.m. CT)



Wednesday, March 3

Semifinal #1 (A1 vs. B2) – Nacional (12:00 Noon CT)

Semifinal #2 (B1 vs. A2) – Nacional (2:30 p.m. CT)



Friday, March 5

Third – Place Eladio Rosabal Cordero (6:00 p.m. CT)

Final – Eladio Rosabal Cordero (8:00 p.m. CT)



CONCACAF FINALROUND WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING STANDINGS

Group A

Team W L T PTS GF GA GD

CAN 1 0 0 3 6 0 +6

CRC 1 0 0 3 6 1 +5

PAN 1 1 0 0 1 6 -5

JAM 0 1 0 0 0 6 -6



Group B

Team W L T PTS GF GA GD

USA 1 0 0 3 7 0 +7

MEX 1 0 0 3 5 0 +5

HAI 0 1 0 0 0 5 -5

TRI 0 1 0 0 0 7 -7