Wambach 100 Goals, Canada 0 Goals

Canada Loses To USA
ROCHESTER, NY — Abby Wambach scored her 100th career goal as USA beat Canada 1:0 in front of 8,433 fans in Rochester. The Canadians battled well throughout the match, with the Central defense pairing of Emily Zurrer and Candace Chapman and Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc in particular standing out. Wambach scored her historic goal in the 78th minute of the match beating LeBlanc low to the right with a great finish.

Canada’s head coach Carolina Morace made two changes to the starting lineup that faced USA on 25 May in Toronto. Melanie Booth and Martina Franko made way for Emily Zurrer and Jonelle Foligno. Morace also made a tactical change, allowing the USA to control possession in defence and pressing the ball when it was moved into the midfield.

“We played well, we lost but that is normal because we have to improve,” said Morace. “Tactically we played well. We can always improve some situations. I am happy with the improvement I have seen thus far. The team has an understanding about how we want to play, now we need to take more care with the details.”

USA had a half chance within the opening minute as USA’s Heather O’Reilly ran down a long through ball but was unable to lob onrushing Canadian keeper Karina Leblanc who pushed the shot aside for a corner. Off the resulting corner the ball bounced dangerously in the Canadian box before being cleared too safety.

Of the two players on 99 goals Christine Sinclair and Abby Wambach, Wambach was the first to have a chance as she broke through the Canadian defense, only to see her low drive superbly blocked by Candace Chapman.

Shannon Boxx was the next to go close for the USA when her fierce drive from 25 yards hit the crossbar in the 8th minute.

Throughout the first half the Americans dominated possession as Canada struggled to many meaningful attacks. Despite the sustained pressure enjoyed by the USA they were unable to break down Canada’s defense line led by the excellent Candace Chapman and Emily Zurrer.

In the 39th minute Sinclair nearly got on the end of a Brittany Timko cross but USA Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was alert to the danger and darted off her line to make the catch in front of Sinclair.

Canada’s best chance of the half fell to Sinclair on a 44th minute corner, the first for Canada, as Diana Matheson whipped in a cross which Sinclair flicked narrowly over the back post.

Canada made one change at half-time as Morace brought on Chelsea Stewart to replace Jodi-Ann Robinson. The match was Stewart’s 5th with the senior team.

USA nearly took the lead six minutes after the restart as Amy Rodriguez rushed down the Canadian left and hit a low curling cross into the Canadian six yard box. Two Canadian defenders flattened Wambach as she attempted to steer the ball into the back of the net.

Canada made their second substitution of the match in the 58th minute as Marie-Eve Nault replaced Brittany Timko.

The always dangerous Wambach nearly scored in the 63rd minute but her chip shot from the right corner of the 18 yard box sailed high and wide.

Coach Morace made her third substitution as Kaylyn Kyle replaced Jonelle Foligno in the 75th minute for Canada.

As the half wore on USA pressed for the go ahead goal, pinning Canada deep in their end. In the 76th minute, second half USA substitute Lauren Chaney broke in one-on-one with keeper LeBlanc only for Zurrer to claw her back with an inch-perfect tackle as Chaney prepared to shoot.

The USA finally broke through in the 78th minute as history was made. Wambach scored her 100th career goal in the 78th minute and then celebrated wildly in front of her hometown fans.

Canada made three further changes as they attempted get back into the game. In the 81st minute Gina Pacheco earned her first cap for Canada coming on in the 81st minute replacing Kara Lang. In the 83rd minute Carmelina Moscato came on for Kelly Parker and in the 89th Robyn Gayle replaced Rhian Wilkinson.

The USA, who finished with 21 total shots compared to Canada’s three, defeated Canada for the second straight time following the USA’s 4:0 victory in Toronto on 25 May. The third match of the three game series goes Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC. The match will be broadcast on Sportsnet (All channels).

Match Meta
USA vs Canada
July 19, 2009
International Friendly
Marina Auto Stadium
Rochester, NY
Kickoff 3 pm ET
Attendance 8,433

Scoring
USA – Abby Wambach (Lauren Cheney) 78th minute

USA Lineup
18-Nicole Barnhart; 4-Cat Whitehill (2-Heather Mitts, 46), 6-Amy LePeilbet, 21-Rachel Buehler, 17-Lori Chalupny (capt.); 9-Heather O’Reilly (13-Tobin Heath, 75), 16-Angela Hucles, 7-Shannon Boxx, 15-Megan Rapinoe; 8-Amy Rodriguez (19-Lauren Cheney, 63), 20-Abby Wambach

Subs not used
1-Hope Solo, 5-Lindsay Tarpley, 10-Carli Lloyd, 11-Christine Nairn, 12-Leslie Osborne, 14-Stephanie Cox

Head Coach
Pia Sundhage

Canada Lineup
1-Karina LeBlanc; 9-Candace Chapman, 2-Emily Zurrer, 7-Rhian Wilkinson (5-Robyn Gayle, 89), 17-Brittany Timko (13-Marie-Eve Nault, 58); 8-Diana Matheson, 4-Kelly Parker (14-Carmelina Moscato, 85), 10-Jodi-Ann Robinson (21-Chelsea Stewart, 46), 15-Kara Lang (3-Gina Pacheco, 80); 16-Jonelle Filigno (6-Kaylyn Kyle, 75), 12-Christine Sinclair (capt.)

Subs not used
11-Christina Julien, 18-Erin McLeod, 19-Shannon Woeller, 20-Alyssa Lagonia, 22-Stephanie Labbe, 23-Sansar Bahar, 24-Karli Hedlund

Head Coach
Carolina Morace

Stats USA-CAN
Shots: 21-3
Shots on Goal: 9-1
Saves: 1-8
Corner Kicks: 10-2
Fouls: 10-12
Offside: 1-3