Cyprus Cup 2009: Women Defeat Spirited Russians

Canada’s women’s national team will get the opportunity to defend their 2008 Cyprus Women’s Cup title after defeating Russia 2:0 in the final group game. The Canadians were lifted past a spirited Russian side on goals from captain Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi. Sinclair’s goal, the 98th of her career, moves her closer to the century mark for goals. Canada will now face England in the March 12 final.

“It was a hard match,” said coach Carolina Morace. “At the beginning I think the players were very emotional and maybe a little tired. In the second half the players were more relaxed and we scored two goals and the game became easy. We continued to not give up goals, which is important for us.”

Canada started quickly, a trend under new coach Carolina Morace, knowing that a victory would guarantee their place in the final. As the half progressed, Russia edged back into the match and had the best early chance when Elena Terekhova, the dangerous number 10, was played in one-on-one against Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. LeBlanc reacted quickly, charging off her line to take the ball off the shoes of Terekhova before the shot was unleashed.

Russia was awarded what looked like a soft penalty shot in the 25th minute when a Russian cross hit Emily Zurrer’s hand from a foot away. Russian centre forward Natalia Mokshanova stepped up for Russia to hit the penalty. While the shot wrong footed LeBlanc, the ball stayed out and came back off the crossbar.

Canada ’s best chance of the half came on a counter attack. Christina Julien neatly controlled a long clearing pass and played the ball into space for Kelly Parker. Parker beat a Russian defender and slipped a ball through the Russian back line into the path of Julien who could only drive her shot into the side netting of the Russian net.

Coming out of the half-time interval, coach Morace shuffled the Canadian deck by bringing on Tancredi for Julien and moving starting centre midfielder Kaylyn Kyle to the wing and in exchange bringing winger Parker into the middle.

The growing pains associated with switching head coaches and playing systems that were evident in the first half quickly melted away in the second period as wave upon wave of Canadian attacks were thrown at the Russian goal.

Canadian Brittany Timko was close to scoring as her drive from a full 35 yards out was tipped onto the Crossbar by Kochneva.

Two minutes later in the 70th minute the deadlock was broken as Canada worked a training ground set-piece to perfection. Wilkinson earned a free kick a few yards away from the corner of the Russian 18 yard box. As Canada lined up to take the free kick, Sinclair quietly slipped out of the huddle of players gathered inside the box circled around the back of the pack and ran up to the top of the 18-yard box unmarked where she met a perfectly weighted rolling pass with an unstoppable blast to the top of the Russian net.

Sinclair was mobbed by her teammates as the stunned Russians could only look to the ground knowing they had been beaten by a sublime goal.

Asked about Sinclair’s goal which came off a designed set piece Morace said, “It is the design of the technical staff but the players have to play, and so it was perfect execution from the players which led to the goal.”

In the 73rd minute, LeBlanc was called on to make an excellent diving stop on a Russian free kick after having been a spectator for much of the second half. The free kick bent over the Canadian wall and to LeBlanc’s right where she got down well to make the stop.

Tancredi doubled the Canadian lead after 82 minutes as she strongly shielded a Russian defender off a long ball over the top and clinically passed the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net giving the Russian keeper no chance.

From there the match descended into disarray. First, Tancredi went down clutching her leg after a challenge from a Russian defender and had to be carted off the field for treatment. During the stoppage in play, Rhian Wilkinson was shown a straight red carded following a discussion with the referee. Upon reaching 90 minutes, the referee added an astonishing 12 minutes of extra time before the match ended.

Notes
Martina Franko, Candice Chapman, and Erin McNulty were unavailable for selection. Kelly Parker made her second appearance for Canada following a one minute cameo appearance in 2003.

Game Video

Other Results
England vs Scotland 3:0
France vs South Africa 3:2
New Zealand vs Netherlands 2:0

Everything About Cyprus Cup 2009