LANGFORD, British Columbia — Nichelle Prince scored twice as Canada defeated an experimental Australian lineup 5-0 on Friday in Christine Sinclair’s penultimate international match.
On a rainy night, the 10th ranked Canadian team played against the 11th ranked Matildas. Chloe Lacasse, Simi Aujo and Adriana Leon also scored for Canada, who led 2-0 at the half.
Canada coach Bev Priestman said she liked what she saw a lot, but still wanted more consistency and a little more killer instinct.
“I need to step on the gas more often,” she said.
Sinclair, the world’s all-time leading scorer with 190 goals, came on in the 63rd minute in Canada’s 5-0 win, earning his 330th cap.
The 40-year-old from Burnaby, British Columbia, was honored before the game by being presented with a commemorative jersey by his two nieces. A presentation was also made to designate December 12th as Christine Sinclair Day in British Columbia.
Sinclair will call time on his international career against the same opponent on Tuesday in front of a crowd of more than 41,000 at BC Place Stadium. That night, the stadium will be renamed Christine Sinclair Place.
A gala celebration in Sinclair’s honor is scheduled for the following night at the same venue, with a performance by Dallas Smith.
Canada took control from the start and took the lead in the 10th minute when Prince beat captain Claire Polkinghorne in the Australian penalty area and beat goalkeeper Teagan Micah with a low shot into the corner.
As the first half progressed, Prince, Leon and Vanessa Gilles had good scoring chances. Prince scored his 16th goal for Canada in the 42nd minute, redirecting a low cross from Ashley Lawrence to make it 2-0.
It could have been 5-0 by halftime. During the intermission, Prince was replaced by Jordyn Huytema.
In the 49th, Lacasse stole the ball from an Australian defender, penetrated the penalty area and beat Mika with a low shot to make it 3–0.
Six minutes later, Aujo extended their lead with a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area. It was the 20-year-old University of Southern California midfielder’s first Canadian goal in his eighth game in Canada.
Leon scored his 31st goal for Canada with a header in the 62nd minute, cutting through the Australian defense once again to make it 5-0.
Sophie Schmidt, who will also be absent on Tuesday, came on late in the game for her 225th cap. Sinclair had a chance in the 71st minute, but Mika reached the ball just before that.
Australian coach Tony Gustafsson brought on more experienced players late in the game, but the result was already decided.
“We were willing to take a risk on the outcome,” Gustafsson said. “It’s not that we didn’t want to lose, but we were going to watch our players tonight, so it took its toll.”
It was the first meeting between the two teams since co-hosts Australia ended the World Cup in Canada with a humiliating 4-0 victory in Melbourne on July 31. With this loss, Canada finished third in Group B and was set to return home, while Australia finished in fourth place.
Gustafsson said before the Langford game that he uses it to find new talent in camp.
“Maybe it’s not about winning the game, it’s about winning the players,” he said.
He added that Australia will be playing “two completely different line-ups” in the Canada Series.
Gustafsson was true to his word. None of the starting lineup for the World Cup game against Canada was included in Friday’s 11th starting lineup, but seven of the substitute players from the Melbourne tournament played. Defender Charlie Rhule and midfielder Sarah Hunter made their debuts for the Matildas.
Canada added six starters from the Melbourne tournament to the starting lineup.
Friday’s game was played at a packed Starlight Stadium, home of the CPL’s Pacific FC and Rugby Canada, about 15 kilometers west of Vancouver. The number of attendees was announced at 6,102, a record for a soccer match at this venue.
The temperature was a humid 7 degrees Celsius, and at the time of the match it felt like 5 degrees Celsius. It started raining a few minutes before the evening kickoff.
Midfielder Jesse Fleming continued to captain Canada and led the starting lineup with 676 total caps. Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan, Lawrence, and Leon accounted for 486 of these.
Kylen Sheridan came on as a second-half substitute for Canada Goal because Sabrina D’Angelo was sick.
Both teams were missing players due to injuries.
Canada was without forward Evelyn Viens, midfielders Julia Grosso, Emma Regan and Desiree Scott, and forward Deanne Rose. Forward Janine Becky is in camp, still rehabbing a knee injury.
The Matildas were without captain and star forward Sam Kerr, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, defender Charlotte Grant and forward Holly McNamara.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2023.
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