Canada WNT @ the Peace Cup

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Canada opens with a 3-2 win over Italy

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article.jsp?content=20061028_130930_6064

Sinclair leads Canada in Seoul
October 28, 2006

Sinclair scores two as Canada tops Italy

SEOUL, South Korea (CP-AP) -- Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., scored two first-half goals on Saturday as Canada opened the Peace Queen Cup with a 3-2 win over Italy.

Jodi-Ann Robinson of Richmond, B.C., also had a goal for Canada, which was playing without captain Charmaine Hooper, Sharolta Nonen and Christine Latham.

The three players were suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association for failing to play in a pair of exhibition games against China in August.

Canada built an early lead with solid goalkeeping from Calgary's Erin McLeod and flashes of brilliance from Sinclair, but Italy closed the gap in the second half and was a constant threat.

Sinclair, who served as captain, got her first goal in the 17th minute after picking up a long cross and drilling a shot inside the left post from a tight angle.

Her second was no less skilful, as she took a pass from Martina Franko of Squamish, B.C., on the left flank and chipped the ball over Italian goalkeeper Carla Brunozzi's right leg in the 35th minute.

Valentina Boni cut the deficit in the 70th, but Canada edged further ahead when Robinson shrugged off two defenders to make it 3-1 in the 81st.

Panico kept Italy close by scoring in the 88th minute.

In Saturday's other game, Angelica Ferreira scored a late winner for Brazil in its 1-0 victory over host South Korea.

The invitational tournament divides eight teams into two groups, with games spread across five South Korean cities.

Canada is in Group A and will play South Korea on Monday and Brazil on Wednesday. The championship match between the top teams in Group A and Group B will be played Nov. 4 in Seoul..

The tournament is Canada's last before it enters the CONCACAF 2006 Women's Gold Cup, where it will attempt to earn one of the region's direct berths to the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Brazil, the world No. 4, dominated possession over an ultra-defensive South Korea, which finally conceded a goal by allowing the visitors plenty of space.

Coach Jose Teixeira said the team was rusty after being out of action since the Olympics.

"We were expecting it would be a very tough match," he said. "There were some mistakes. We missed some good opportunities, but I'm sure that for the upcoming matches the team will improve a lot."

[RichardFH]

http://www.bcsoccerweb.com/articles-oct/bcsw-oct-28.htm

Canada dominates play to win 3-2 against Italy

Seoul, Korea - A game dominated in large stretches by Canada resulted in a 3-2 victory for rookie captain Christine Sinclair and her team at Canada's opening game in the Peace Queen Cup 2006 Korea. Both Italy goals were against the run of play with some suspicion of the second one being an offside position. Martina Franko had a strong game for Canada up front, assisting on both Sinclair goals. The second assist was a beautiful pass to spring Sinclair free. Franko finished the game at center back. Canada’s third goal was scored within minutes of Jodi Ann Robinson coming onto the field and driving towards the net with great determination. This makes Robinson one of the youngest to score for Canada's senior team since she is but 17 years old.

After the game head coach Even Pellerud said: "We got off to a very good start in the prestigious Peace Cup. The result does not reflect this game as we dominated the field of play and the goal scoring chances to an extent that actually surprised me a little bit. The Italian team could not figure out how to handle our collective pressure and quick attacks and we felt comfortable winning this game, until momentum changed with an accidental goal (1-2) by Italy in the 70th minute. This goal encouraged the Italian team and we had to focus on defensive discipline for the remainder of the game. We now look forward to play host Korea on Monday, a team that played an even match against Brazil. This group is still open, so we need to play another strong game on Monday.”

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Another win for the girls and 1st place in the group after Brasil slips.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=182378&hubname=

Sinclair hat-trick as Canada beats hosts

Associated Press

10/30/2006 9:25:05 AM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP-CP) - Christine Sinclair scored all three goals Monday as Canada defeated South Korea 3-1 in the inaugural Peace Queen Cup.

The hat trick raised Sinclair's total to five goals in two games.

Just 23, Sinclair has scored 63 times for Canada in 84 appearances. The forward from Burnaby, B.C., made her debut for the senior side in 2000.

Canada leads Group A with six points after opening with a 3-2 win over Italy and needs only a draw against Brazil in its last group match to qualify for the final.

The Italians held Brazil 1-1 on Monday, leaving the No. 4-ranked Brazilians in second place with four points.

Australia leads Group B with three points after its opening win over Netherlands, followed by the United States and Denmark.

The invitational tournament, formerly a club-level event for men, features eight teams in two groups. The group leaders will meet in Saturday's final in Seoul for a US$200,000 prize.

Sinclair beat South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi with a powerful strike in the 22nd minute Monday before the hosts equalized on Hong Kyung-suk's well-taken free kick.

Sinclair took control after halftime, racing into the penalty area in the 49th and driving a shot inside the far post. She gave the Canadians a two-goal mmrgin in the 68th minute with a one-touch volley that went over Kim.

Sinclair, who led the world under-19 championships in scoring four years ago in Edmonton, also scored two of Canada's three goals in a win over Italy on Saturday.

Brazil followed up on its narrow win over South Korea by scraping a tie against Italy.

Italy captain Patrizia Panico headed Tatiana Zorri's free kick across the goalmouth for defender Giulia Perelli to score in the 21st minute. Suzana saved the day for the Brazilians with a powerful left foot shot in the 54th minute.

The tournament features five of top 10 teams in the world, including No. 10 Canada.

Canada is using it as a warmup ahead of next month's World Cup qualifying event in California.

North Korea, ranked No. 7 and winner of this year's world under-20 championship in Russia, pulled out following the regime's Oct. 9 nuclear test.

Tuesday's Group B matches feature the United States against Australia and Denmark against Netherlands.

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Canada is now in the final...Brasil left their program idle for 2 years :eek:

Canada's women advace to soccer final

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1162379047702&col=1053692575155&call_page=TSS_Main&call_pageid=968867503640&call_pagepath=Sports/Index

ASSOCIATED PRESS


CHANGWON, South Korea — Rhian Wilkinson scored one goal and set up another Wednesday as Canada thrashed Brazil 4-2 to advance to the women's Peace Queen Cup final.

Canada relied on captain Christine Sinclair for five of its six goals in the first two games, but took advantage of its speedy defenders Wednesday to go two goals up in seven minutes.

Martina Franko scored in the second minute with a neat chip and Randee Hermus jumped into a goalfront fray five minutes later to head home Kristina Kiss's corner kick.

World No. 4 Brazil pulled one back in the 13th after midfielder Roseil beat goalkeeper Leisha Alcia with the outside of her right boot, but the Athens 2004 runner-up, which has not contested a major tournament since then, lacked cohesion.

Sinclair put a dampener on Brazil's comeback hopes by flicking in Wilkinson's cross in the 28th minute to make it 3-1.

Wilkinson scored six minutes later when Melanie Booth fed her the ball for an easy tap-in. Nilda closed the gap for Brazil in the 86th minute with a fine left-foot effort that flew past Alcia, but time ran out for the South Americans.

Canada coach Even Pellerud said his team could have done better.

"I wasn't too happy. We didn't end very well and we didn't do a good job of attacking. We gave the Brazilians too many chances," he said. "We need to let this sink in and evaluate what we have to do for the next game."

Canada advances to Saturday's final after winning all three of its group games to emerge as the clear Group A winner. The invitational tournament features eight teams in two groups. Brazil, Italy and host South Korea are now eliminated in Group A.

Canada's final opponent will be decided Thursday with the completion of Group B play.

The U.S. leads with four points, but are ahead of Denmark only on goal difference. Asian Cup runner-up Australia has three points and could advance in the unlikely event that the Netherlands holds the Americans to a draw, while it beats Denmark.

Earlier Wednesday, Italy took a 2-1 consolation win over South Korea.