Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team opened their 2022 international season with a 1:1 draw against hosts England at the Arnold Clark Cup. Millie Bright opened the scoring for England in the first half before Janine Beckie equalised in the 55th minute on a left-footed strike from outside the box.
The Canada draw leaves all four nations tied on one point with one goal scored. In the opening match of the tournament, Spain’s Alexia Putellas opened the scoring before Germany’s Lea Schüller equalised late for a 1-1 draw at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.
On Sunday 20 February, Canada will face Germany at Carrow Road Stadium in Norwich at 20.15 local with a live broadcast on TSN (15.15 ET / 12.15 PT). Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANWNT.
“We were miles better in the second half and the players were resilient right to the end and we were creating chances,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “When we got in behind them and used our strengths, we were better. We learned lessons in the first half and we can now take that momentum from the second half into our next match against Germany.”
Beckie’s goal was the 34th of her international “A” career, which equals Kara Lang for fourth most in Canada’s record books (behind Christine Sinclair 188, Charmaine Hooper 71 and Silvana Burtini 38). The goal also made Beckie Canada’s joint-leader in goals scored since the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 (both Beckie and Sinclair with 33 goals each).
“We took a lot of steps forward as a team and we can be really proud of the performance,” said Canada goalscorer Janine Beckie. “Any time that I can score for the country and contribute to the performance, it’s something I like to do. It was a great build up on the left side and then you see what happens when we have patience and we bring it around. Jordyn (Huitema) made a great pass in to me, then I wanted to take my touch on the outside, I took a poor first touch, but then came on the inside and I’m pretty pleased with that goal.”
Canada’s starting XI featured Kailen Sheridan in goal, Jayde Riviere at right back, Vanessa Gilles and Kadeisha Buchanan at centre back, Ashley Lawrence at left back, and Desiree Scott, Julia Grosso, Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie, Deanne Rose and Jordyn Huitema from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, Head Coach Bev Priestman replaced Grosso with Quinn (59’), Huitema with Nichelle Prince (59’), Riviere with Cloé Lacasse (65’), and Rose for Victoria Pickett (80’).
Canada players and staff wore black armbands in memory of Sandi Sinclair who passed away earlier in the month. Before kickoff, Canada’s starting lineup posed for a photo holding a Christine Sinclair 12 jersey.
Canada Soccer Media Release
Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
