Casey Stoney has her first victory as Canada coach, nevertheless it got here with some bruises because the sixth-ranked Canadian girls survived a bodily problem from No. 31 Mexico to win 2-0 Saturday on the Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain.
Vanessa Gilles celebrated her fiftieth cap with a aim and Adriana Leon added a late strike to present Canada the win.
Mexico had extra scoring possibilities within the first half at Pinatar Area however the recreation modified after Mexican defender Annia Mejia was despatched off for a second yellow card within the fortieth minute.
“Thy were extremely physical,” mentioned Stoney. “At one point I actually said to the fourth [official] my player safety was a concern to me.”
The Canadians broke the impasse within the 51st minute when Olivia Smith’s nook discovered Jordyn Huitema, who headed it over to Gilles to move dwelling. It was an eighth aim for the 28-year-old centre again from Ottawa and the fourth in her final eight matches.
WATCH | Gilles scores winner as Canada blanks Mexico at Pinatar Cup:
Vanessa Gilles scores game-winner as Canada blanks Mexico at Pinatar Cup
Enjoying in her fiftieth cap for Canada, Vanessa Gilles scored the game-winning aim within the 51st minute, as Canada beat Mexico 2-0 on the Pinatar Cup in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.
Gilles, who made her senior debut in November 2019, has change into one of many first names on the Canadian staff sheet.
“I said at the end of the game it’s not easy to get one cap. So to get 50 is quite the achievement,” mentioned Stoney, a former England captain who received 130 caps. “She’s a giant chief and a giant a part of this group.
“I’m just really pleased for her — sealed it with a win, a goal and a clean sheet.”
The shutout went to goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, her thirtieth in 52 begins (and 57 appearances) for Canada.
Leon scored her forty second aim in her 123 worldwide look, doubling the lead within the 89th minute when she knocked the ball into an empty aim after a pleasant buildup by Nichelle Prince and Evelyne Viens.
Canada had 64 per cent possession and outshot Mexico 13-11 (5-3 in photographs heading in the right direction) after being outshot 6-4 (3-1 in photographs heading in the right direction) within the first half.
WATCH | Leon seals win towards Mexico with late aim:
Adriana Leon seals Casey Stoney’s 1st win as Canada’s head coach
Adriana Leon scored within the 89th minute to safe Canada’s 2-0 win over Mexico on the Pinatar Cup in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. The victory is Casey Stoney’s first as Canada’s new head coach.
Canada drew No. 17 China 1-1 in Stoney’s debut as Canada coach on Wednesday, whereas Mexico blanked No. 42 Taiwan 4-0. China defeated Taiwan 4-0 earlier Saturday.
The Canadians wrap up match play Tuesday towards Taiwan.
Smith, a 20-year-old who performs in England for Liverpool, obtained some tough remedy from Mexico earlier than exiting across the hour mark.
Stoney mentioned she had deliberate for Smith to play the entire recreation however pulled her off early “to protect her ΓǪ (after) she got kicked after kicked after kicked.”
“She’s such a talent. She’s so dynamic in terms of what she does in (terms of) creativity. It’s like, how can we just consistently get her in the right areas so she can perform? And then how can the officials look after her a bit better?”
Canada improved to 24-2-3 all-time towards Mexico, the third-ranked staff in CONCACAF behind the top-ranked Individuals and No. 6 Canada. However Stoney warned they had been a step up from China and he or she was proved proper till Mexico went a participant down.
Revamped Canadian roster
Stoney revamped her roster from the China recreation, which noticed seven gamers unavailable after arriving from North America the day past.
Solely Gilles, Gabby Carle, Julia Grosso and Janine Sonis (previously Janine Beckie) retained their beginning spots. Jessie Fleming reclaimed the captain’s armband from Gilles.
Angel Metropolis defender Megan Reid, a 28-year-old from California whose mom was born in Canada, received her second cap in partnering Gilles at centre again.
The Canadian lineup went into the sport with a mixed 750 caps, up from 690 for the beginning 11 towards China.
Mexico misplaced defender Greta Espinoza to harm after a clumsy collision on a second-minute nook.
4 minutes later, Mejia was cautioned for a nasty studs-up sort out on Smith. And the Mexican ought to have been proven one other card within the thirty fifth when she cynically bodied Huitema to the turf however went unpunished by Hungarian referee Katalin Sipos.
However Mejia obtained the second yellow minutes later, scything down Leon from behind.
“Eventually [the referee] did something about it but I thought it was too late,” mentioned Stoney, who had been unimpressed by Sipos’ officiating within the win over China.
Veteran defender Shelina Zadorsky changed Reid to begin the second half, adopted by Emma Regan, Viens, Prince, Ashley Lawrence and Marie-Yasmine Alidou off the Canadian bench.
Canada is lacking the injured Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea), Sydney Collins and Bianca St-Georges (North Carolina Braveness), Cloe Lacasse (Utah Royals), Deanne Rose (Leicester Metropolis) and Quinn (Vancouver Rise).
Midfielder Simi Awujo missed the sport after selecting up a knock in coaching.
It’s Canada’s first time on the Pinatar Cup, beforehand received by Scotland, Belgium, Iceland and Finland.
The Canadian girls haven’t misplaced in regulation time in 21 matches relationship again to a 1-0 loss to Brazil in Montreal in October 2023. Canada has gone 13-0-8 since then with three of the attracts turning into penalty shootout losses (two to the U.S. and one to Germany) and one right into a shootout win (over Brazil).
