… Canada sink Lady Jags 8-0
GUYANA suffered another humiliating loss playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup/Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Cancun Mexico, going down 8-0 to Canada when the tournament continued at the Beto Avila Stadium on Sunday evening.
Christine Sinclair scored four goals while Jonelle Filigno netted a double and Christine Julien and Kara Lang each scored a goal to send the Canadians one step closer to the semi-finals and a chance to advance to the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany. Since Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0, it means that the Canadians and the home side have both advanced to the semi-finals where they will meet defending champions USA and Costa Rica.
Given the kick-off, the Lady Jags came out looking a bit more purposeful as compared to how they started against Mexico when they lost 7-2 last Friday at the same venue, but became complacent in the early stages of the game.
They paid for their regular defensive mistake in the 15th-minute when Julien collected a pass inside the 18-yard box from Rhian Wilkinson playing on the left wing, and blasted a flat left-footed shot to Guyana’s custodian Catherine Kobelka who was clearly beaten by the powerful shot.
The goal certainly added early pressure for the Lady Jags since offensively they were clustered and seemed out of place but however tightened up on the defensive.
In the meantime the Canadians began to draw them out of their (Guyana) defensive zone and set up Sinclair for her first goal which came in the 34th minute after Kobelka could not hold on to a corner kick from Desiree Scott and the witty 26-year-old striker took full advantage of the error to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
With a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half Canada wasted no time in stepping up in their goal hunt as Filigno got past defender Alison Heydorn from a pass from Lang just on the tip of the six-yard box and the rest as they say was history; Guyana’s keeper was stunned by the hard shot and didn’t move.
Three goals to nil the Canadian led just a few seconds into the second half as Sinclair netted again 50th minute and two more in the 63rd in the 75th minute to match the most goals scored in the tournament by Mexico’s Maribel Dominguez and the USA’s Abby Wambach.
Guyana’s real chance on goal came in the in 63rd minute when Heydorn’s shot sailed over the bar and Canadian keeper Karina LeBlanc only had one touch in the ball in the first half from a play on again by Heydorn.
There was little the Guyana side could have done, matching the pace and skill of the Canadians who are ranked 13 in the world by FIFA and they were outplayed in every department on the field.
Coach Mark Rodrigues utilised all of his substitutions, bringing in Melisa Elia for the skipper Ashley Rodrigues, Shantal Lynch for Olivia Gonsalves and Tessa Edwards.
He also included left back Collette Hope in the starting lineup as compared to her second half feature in the game against Mexico.
The change brought new life to the Guyana side as they attacked a bit more than they did in the first half but it also opened up a can of worms for their defence, as they were torn apart behind by the goal-hungry Canadians.
The loss means that Guyana, who only allowed seven goals in their Caribbean qualifiers, have now amassed 15 in two matches and scored just two.
Canada defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 in their opening game while Mexico slaughtered the Guyanese 7-2.
Guyana and Trinidad will now play for pride since both sides have two losses. They will collide today at 17:30 h local time.