TORONTO-
Canada’s National Women’s Soccer Team hadn’t played a game since April. With many players in the midst of a break from their respective club teams and a busy few days which included squad reductions, this may have explained part of the lack of attacking featured in their international friendly against the South Korea.
“I think at times we looked good and at other times we looked clumsy,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said after their 0-0 draw at BMO Field on Sunday. “I think that’s probably a reflection of where we’ve been.”
Although they crushed their opponents by picking up the pace of play, Canada was unable to take advantage of the 67% possession they held against their opponents.
“I think we just have to be okay with that,” Priestman said. “Sometimes you get shots from 40 yards out. I think it’s that real patience and getting the ball into the box in a different way.”
Janine Beckie factored in many of these ranged shot attempts. She delivered the ball to several teammates who had chances inside the box but the attempts either missed the target or didn’t connect.
“Congratulations Korea, they are very organized and a very defensive team,” Beckie said.
The Canadians dominated the first half with six of their 13 shots on the opposing goal while maintaining a 71% possession advantage. Their attack began in the fourth minute when Beckie’s cross found Jordyn Huitema in the box. Huitema’s header attempt sailed just wide of the goal.
In the 17th minute, Beckie had another kick on goal. Kadeisha Buchanan connected with a header that bounced off South Korean goalkeeper Younggeul Yoon and across the net before landing on goal.
Buchanan’s attempt was the only shot on target in the first half.
The 18th-ranked South Koreans only fired two shots on goal in the first half, neither of which hit the target. Soyun Ji had the best chance to score when his shot from just outside the middle of the box went left of goal.
Ji had another scoring chance in the 52nd minute when she carried the ball in from the right side of the box, but her attempt was easily blocked by Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
“She’s a bit like Christine Sinclair when she plays,” South Korea head coach Colin Bell said of Ji. “I mean that in a positive way that Sinclair can basically do whatever she wants to do and she’s earned that right because she’s a great player, a world-class player.
“It’s the same for us and Ji.”
Canada kept pushing for the game’s first goal. Second-half substitute Vanessa Gilles headed a corner opportunity wide of the goal in the 71st minute.
Nichelle Prince was the last of five substitutions for the sixth-ranked Canadians in the 75th minute as they repeatedly tried to advance to the net late in the game. In the final burst of added time, Canada had three straight shots on goal. Buchanan and Gilles’ shot was stopped and Deanne Rose’s chance was blocked.
“I think we played very well and fully deserved the point (sic) we got,” Bell said. “And maybe if our girls were a bit more advanced in their physical abilities, we could have won the game.”
South Korea finished second in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final.
Canada, the defending Olympic champions, finished the game with a 13-3 advantage in shots.
Sinclair did not enter the game, although he was made available as a reserve. She did not take part in training on Saturday after Priestman revealed on Friday that the veteran striker was suffering from an undisclosed injury.
The match, played in front of 15,616 fans, was Canada’s only tune-up ahead of next month’s CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico. This tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
NOTE: Ahead of the game, Canada Soccer paid tribute to former player Diana Matheson, who retired last year just before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Jessie Fleming made her 100th national team cap and dressed as captain in place of Sinclair.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2022.
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