Olivia Smith
No matter seeds of doubts which will have existed with Canada’s nationwide girls’s soccer staff have been dispelled shortly through the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, now underway in San Diego.
Canada has been good thus far heading into Wednesday’s semi-final match towards arch-rival U.S.A., with a event main 14 objectives scored for and is the one nation but to concede a aim within the event.
The efficiency is due largely to newcomers like Olivia Smith of Whitby, who has two objectives and two assists and has supplied head coach Bev Priestman with a brand new weapon in chic set piece deliveries; and veterans decided to place a lower than stellar World Cup final yr – soccer legend Christine Sinclair’s ultimate worldwide look – behind them.
Main the cost is Mississauga’s Adriana Leon, who leads all scorers with 5 objectives, together with a hattrick towards Paraguay and a pair vs El Salvador, newly anointed captain Jessie Fleming (London), who has two assists on completely positioned chips; Sudbury’s Chloe Lacasse, with two objectives and three assists; and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan of Whitby, whose unbelievable level clean, additional time toe save on Costa Rica’s Melissa Herrera saved Canada from sure defeat within the quarter-final towards Costa Rica.
Canada would win the match within the 104th minute on glancing header by Evelyn Viens from a Fleming chip.
Sheridan’s save was the stuff of legend, with the video posted and reposted quite a few occasions, and one incredulous fan declaring that the San Diego Wave ‘keeper’s proper boot “needs to be enshrined in the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame!”
Preserve watching this again and again. Sooo good! 👏 🇨🇦 #CANWNT @footy_prime @Kailen_Sheridan https://t.co/rDH1BbMQXg
— Craig Forrest (@craigforrest1) March 3, 2024
For Smith, the event is a little bit of a popping out get together for the 19-year-old, who has been on hearth in her first yr taking part in professional in Portugal, scoring in her debut and now with six objectives in 12 video games for Sporting CP.
Her aim within the event opener towards El Salvador (a 6-0 win) was the primary of her senior worldwide profession.
Sheridan has 46 caps for Canada. She appeared in a single sport in reduction of starter Stephanie Labbe in Canada’s gold medal efficiency on the Tokyo Olympics and has been Canada’s starter ever since.
Leon, Fleming and defender Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton) have been named to the Group Stage Finest XI on the event, with Leon incomes ‘Game Changer’ honours as effectively.
Adriana Leon
Adriana Leon, Canada – Leon completed the group stage because the main scorer within the event with 5 objectives. She bagged a brace within the opener towards El Salvador after which notched a hat-trick towards Paraguay. She additionally had two assists and was a transparent alternative for the Group Stage Recreation-Changer.
Jessie Fleming, Canada – Fleming at all times shines brilliant in massive Concacaf matches and the group stage was no totally different. In three video games and 194 minutes, she made six steals, took three pictures, contributed an help and accomplished over 87 % of her passes.
Kadeisha Buchanan, Canada – Canada completed the group stage with an ideal document thanks largely to Buchanan, who was an anchor on a again line that allowed no objectives within the three video games. Buchanan had two steals, three clearances and a aim.
Recreation time Wednesday towards the Individuals is 10:15 ET. The gold medal sport might be performed Sunday, with the Canada-USA winner taking up both Brazil or Mexico.
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