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Adriana Leon and Evelyne Viens celebrate Canada's first goal against Mexico. (Photo: Canada Soccer)
MATCH ANALYSIS: CanWNT score twice in second half to defeat Mexico in Montreal
2024-06-01
by
Benedict Rhodes, CanPL.ca Contributor (@BTFR17)
Canada Soccer CANWNT National Teams

Final Score: Canada 2-0 Mexico
Goalscorers: Leon 73′, Lacasse 86′
International Friendly — Summer Send-Off Series

Match in a minute or less

The Canadian women’s national team defeated Mexico 2-0 in Montreal on Saturday, after scoring twice in a strong second half performance.

Canada dominated possession for much of the first half, but Mexico eventually settled in and started to build some momentum as time passed. Late in the half the visitors nearly took the lead from a set piece, but Vanessa Gilles prevented the opening goal with a volleyed clearance off the goal line.

Despite outshooting Mexico, Canada failed to hit the target in the first 45, and came closest in stoppage time as a low cross-goal shot from Janine Beckie trickled just wide of the far post.

The intensity picked up in the second half, especially after a handful of substitutions before the hour mark. Jessie Fleming nearly gave Canada the lead in the 60th minute with a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area that sailed wide of the right post.

Adriana Leon finally opened the scoring in the 73rd minute, poking the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to give Canada the lead after a quick counter-attack.

Cloé Lacasse doubled the lead for Canada in the 86th minute, running onto a pass over the backline from Evelyne Viens and calmly firing a low shot past Celeste Espino to make it 2-0.

A slow and somewhat frustrating first half made way for a good second half by the Canadians, who leave Montreal with a solid win. These sides will meet again on Tuesday night in Toronto, as the second and final match of this Summer Send-Off Series takes place at BMO Field.

Three Observations

Disjointed, hesitant play lets Canada down at times in attack

Canada started this match well, regularly running at the Mexican backline and piling on a lot of pressure, but they lacked a finishing touch in the final third to put the ball in the back of the net and potentially put this game to bed early.

The hosts were disjointed at times, however, with Adriana Leon in particular a bit isolated at the striker position. There seemed to be a lack of chemistry between the front three of Leon, Janine Beckie, and Olivia Smith, as the trio struggled a bit to connect their passes and know when to make the runs behind the backline that could have led to more shots on target.

One such chance did come in stoppage time, however, as Beckie ran in behind the backline and fired a low shot across goal that bounced wide of the post at the bottom left corner she was aiming at.

The team as a whole was hesitant on the ball in some moments where they potentially could have scored a goal or two and really run away with the match. Things improved after the break, however, and Canada ended up getting the result they needed.

“I thought the first half we played a little bit within ourselves, sideways, backwards, and I think the identity of the team is a team who can hurt teams in behind,” head coach Bev Priestman said after the match. “I think that’s what you’ve seen in the second half. We had a late change to the lineup and a different combination than maybe what we’ve been working on, and I think that probably showed in the first half, but second half, I think that’s the identity of the team.”

Beckie’s ability to be a Swiss Army Knife and play in several positions is a huge asset for Canada, as it gives Priestman a lot of options to find a place in the team for one of its best players, but it can also be a bit challenging, as throughout matches she is sometimes moved around the pitch and takes on several roles. Canada’s attackers switched sides and roles multiple times in the first half, with Smith and Beckie swapping wings and Leon dropping deeper or moving out wide to try and get on the ball and make something happen.

In the second half when Beckie and Smith were replaced by Cloé Lacasse and Evelyne Viens, the front three had a more defined role and started to look sharper, resulting in two goals.

Adriana Leon and Evelyne Viens celebrate Canada’s first goal against Mexico. (Photo: Canada Soccer)

Substitutions make an impact as Canada find another gear in second half

After the aforementioned first half, where Canada were beating themselves at times more than anything, it was some big substitutions in the second half that ended up winning them the game.

Evelyne Viens replaced Olivia Smith at the break, before Priestman made a triple change twelve minutes later — replacing Janine Beckie, Julia Grosso, and Jayde Riviere with Cloé Lacasse, Simi Awujo, and Gabrielle Carle. The front three settled into more defined roles as the half progressed, with Adriana Leon on the right, Lacasse on the left and Viens through the middle.

All of Canada’s substitutes made an impact after coming in, but Viens in particular had a stellar outing and provided the assists on both of Canada’s goals. Playing in her home province, Viens was one of the players that needed to have a big performance in June to convince Priestman that she should be on the small Olympic roster, and that is exactly what she provided.

“We never say die,” said Priestman of her team’s second half effort after the match. “We’ve shown that if we go down or we score late in games, that’s been a never-say-die attitude, and I think that comes from a commitment to one vision and we’re all facing in the right direction.

“I was over the moon for some of the players that I think have almost needed that. Particularly [in the] second half, Cloé Lacasse, running forward, playing forward, that’s what I’ve been trying to get into in the last little bit because I think when she does that she’s unstoppable.”

Also coming on in the second half was Desiree Scott, making her first appearance for the national team since 2022 after a long recovery process from a knee injury. Scott has battled hard to be back in contention for the Olympic team, and Priestman thought it was important to give her a chance to get onto the pitch.

Scott looked composed as always, keeping things simple, which Priestman also pointed out after the match as one of her strengths.

“She lost her mum recently, she’s had a long-term injury, and she’s given everything and delivered medals for this program back-to-back-to-back,” Preistman said. “She’ll give anything to make this Olympic roster, and I think the least I can do is get her on the pitch. She’s looked great all week in training, so it was nice to see her come in.”

Canada keep a clean sheet, but more defensive pressure is needed

If there was any doubt before, there shouldn’t be any going forward that Canada’s best back three consists of Jade Rose, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Vanessa Gilles. All three stepped up in this match, playing the physically demanding and ruthless style of defending that Canada has become so well-known for in recent years.

All three are strong aerial threats, and don’t shy away from making tackles along the ground either. They are offensively sound as well, as all three can play out of the back, or provide options in the penalty box on set pieces.

Canada’s physicality can overwhelm opponents when they’re at their best, and this defensive trio in particular thrive at it.

Mexico head coach Pedro López said as much after the match, insisting that his side knows how to beat Canada, but they just couldn’t compete with the Canadians physically, and as a result lost some duels in key areas of the pitch. That is something his side need to adjust to for the second match in Toronto on Tuesday, and something that Canada need to be prepared for as well.

One thing Canada needed to improve at times in this match was their intensity. Through 30 minutes they were pinning Mexico in their own half and trying to win the ball high up the pitch, but late in the first half and at some points in the second half, they weren’t playing with that same intensity and were almost allowing Mexico to beat them. If they can stay committed for the full 90 minutes, they will be even more of a force to be reckoned with.

Vanessa Gilles in particular had a great game, including saving a goal with a clearance on the line late in the first half, and a headed block late in the second half to keep the clean sheet intact.

 

“We call her the magnet,” Priestman said about Gilles. “Wherever that ball is, it comes into the box whether it’s an attacking set play, she’s there. She’s a warrior, you talk about players who they’ll do anything to win. On the pitch, she’s just an absolute warrior and I think she’s born with that.

“You see it every day in training. Some players are big game players, Vanessa, no matter what, whether it’s mini goals or a big goal, she’s there and she cares about keeping a clean sheet, and she celebrates keeping a clean sheet like a forward does scoring, and I think it’s a pleasure to have her in the team.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Evelyne Viens, Canada

Needing a big performance in this June window to lock in her spot on the roster for the Olympic Games, Evelyne Viens came off the bench at halftime and set up both of Canada’s goals in her home province. The team looked significantly better after Viens and a few of her teammates checked in off the bench after the break.

What’s next?

These sides meet again on Tuesday night in Toronto for the second and final match of the Summer Send-Off Series, with kickoff set for 7:30 pm ET. That match will be available to watch live on OneSoccer.

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