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CanWNT come from behind, beat Nigeria 2-1

Canada’s women’s national team came from behind to best Nigeria 2-1 at Pinatar Stadium in Murcia, Spain on Monday. Canada’s win brings its 2019 record to 4-2-0 and marks its first victory over Nigeria in three encounters.

Canada started the first half playing with a young lineup and into a strong wind. While the team enjoyed spells of possession, the wind impeded Canada’s attack for much of the opening frame. Nigeria’s Desire Oparanozie opened the scoring on the counter-attack in the 27’. Canada’s backline had pressed high up the pitch working to play through on the ground and a turnover lead to Oparanozie being sprung behind centre backs Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky. Buchanan got back to make a sliding challenge, however, Oparanozie took a touch around the sliding defender and slotted the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod.

“It definitely was a battle,” head coach Kenneth Heiner-Møeller said. “They gave us some physical challenges but I think we stood up to it. The most important thing was we showed composure, after going 1-0 down, it’s about keeping our structures right and keeping our composure. The second half was about us having more players in the penalty area and we definitely became more dangerous. This camp was all about partnership and sharpening the tools. It’s about finding more than one player to each position and I think we solved that. It’s a great group, in total, a great camp and two great wins.”

Canada made three substitutions to start the second half and equalized immediately the following halftime with Janine Beckie scoring in the 47’. Canada soon went ahead with Sophie Schmidt scoring in the 53’. Riviere again played provider swinging a ball in from the wing onto the head of Schmidt who directed it home. Canada nearly made it three in the 75’ minute after Ashley Lawrence played a hard cross on the ground to Sinclair, who dummied the ball to Beckie but the Nigerian defender made a great sliding block. Christine Sinclair nearly had her 181st career goal in the 89’ after Schmidt played her into the Nigerian 18 but Sinclair’s shot was cleared away by a Nigerian header.

“I think it was a very physical game, there were a lot of fouls out there, but once we got over that initial shock, we were able to play around them and create a lot of opportunities,” Allysha Chapman said following the match. “I think it’s building a lot of momentum for us, getting two wins is great and just hope to build that into the next camp.”

Shelina Zadorsky celebrated her 50th appearance for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National team on the night.

The CanWNT will now switch focus to their “send-off” match against Mexico in Toronto at BMO Field on May 18th, their last home match before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in France this summer.