Canada will face Sweden in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ after finishing second in Group E with six points. Canada defeated Cameroon and New Zealand before falling 2:1 to Netherlands in the group stage finale. Against Netherlands, Player of the Match Christine Sinclair leveled the score 1-1 in the 60th minute before the Dutch’s Lineth Beerensteyn scored the winner in the 75th minute. Anouk Dekker opened the scoring for Netherlands in the 54th minute.
The Round of 16 match will be played on Monday 24 June at Parc des Princes in Paris at 21.00 local. The knockout match will be broadcast live on CTV, TSN and RDS at 15.00 ET / 12.00 PT. Extended coverage is featured across Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to follow Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team every step of the way by using the social media handle #CANWNT.
“I know if we play to our best, we can beat everyone and that includes anyone who we may face in the next rounds,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “We were trying to win this match because that is what we do and we do very well. We need to learn from this game, shift quickly and focus on the next task. We are only looking forward.”
Canada played Netherlands to a 0-0 halftime draw, although they thought they had a penalty in the opening minute of the match. Janine Beckie was taken down on her run into the box, but the help of the Video Assistant Referee determined that the foul occurred just outside the box. From the resulting foul, Christine Sinclair’s free kick was stopped by the Dutch wall.
In the second half, Netherlands took advantage of a foul wide of Stephanie Labbé’s goal. In the 54th minute, the free kick was lofted into the back post, with Anouk Dekker heading home. Canada were able to equalize in the 60th minute after Jordyn Huitema’s ball wide to Ashley Lawrence allowed Lawrence to play a perfect ball to the back post to a waiting Sinclair who made no mistake. It was the 182nd international goal of Sinclair’s career, leaving her just three back of the all-time record.
Lineth Beerensteyn’s winner in 75th minute was scored at the back post on a cross from Danielle Van Lunteren.
“We have a massive game coming up in four days, so in a way this was a wake-up call for us going into the Round of 16,” said Sinclair. “The Dutch team are very talented and have some world-class players. It took us some time to get into the game and find our rhythm. We were disappointed with the result, but proud of how we grew into the game.”
Canada started Stephanie Labbé in goal, Ashley Lawrence at right back, Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky at centre back, Allysha Chapman at left back, and Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt, Jordyn Huitema, Janine Beckie, Jessie Fleming and Captain Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller replaced Sinclair with Adriana Leon (68’), Chapman with Jayde Riviere (69’), and Scott with Rebecca Quinn (79‘).
