Sinclair on the spot for Canada clincher - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
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THE DAY REPLAYED – It may have just started, but the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ is already looking like a competition of firsts.
In this first tournament with 24 teams, during which goal-line technology and vanishing spray will be used for the first time (as they were in the Canada-China match in Edmonton), the Netherlands, one of eight teams making their debut – also a first – pulled off a first-ever World Cup victory over New Zealand.
Other breakthrough events included an opening game that was won for the first time by a penalty kick, as well as a first win for Canada and first defeat for China PR in the opener, the former having previously lost to Germany in 1995, and the latter having beaten Norway in 1991.
And it goes without saying that, due to their positive results, both Canada and the Netherlands now share first place in Group A.
Results
Group A
Canada 1-0 China PR
New Zealand 0-1 Netherlands
Goal of the day
New Zealand 0-1 Netherlands, Lieke Martens (33)
Lieke Martens will go down in history as the first Dutch goalscorer at the Women’s World Cup, after she curled home a beautiful shot from just outside the box in the first half of the Netherlands’ clash with New Zealand. Cutting in from the left, the graceful midfielder drove into the gap between two defenders and fired a powerful and accurate effort past the outstretched arms of Kiwi goalkeeper Erin Nayler.
Memorable moments
Handy examples: By definition, football is a sport that is played with the feet, but arms and hands still play a prominent role at major tournaments. Captain’s hands, for example, are involved in FIFA’s Handshake for Peace, which occurs before and after every match. The elbow and forearm of Chinese defender Zhao Rong proved crucial on Saturday, as she knocked over Canada’s Adriana Leon in the box for a late penalty. The fists of John Herdman and Christine Sinclair were clenched simultaneously to celebrate a victory that had looked beyond the hosts. And hands were used for applause as well, in recognition of midfielder Sophie Schmidt, who was awarded the Live Your Goals Player of the Match award.
Starter for ten: On a day of benchmarks and breakthroughs, New Zealand would have very much liked to have added a positive statistic of their own to the list. But the Football Ferns will have to wait to bring to an end their undesirable losing record at the Women’s World Cup, which now stretches to ten matches. Still in search of their first success, the AFC representatives have now lost nine times at the prestigious event, with their only non-defeat coming in a draw with Mexico at Germany 2011.
Christine goal machine: With more than 150 international goals under her belt, Christine Sinclair may well have stopped paying attention to the number of Canadian football records she has now broken. She nevertheless continues to make history: her spot-kick winner against China not only provided her country with a dramatic three points, but also increased her World Cup goals tally to eight, which moves her up to eleventh position in the all-time tournament scoring charts. The injury-time strike also saw the prolific striker join an elite group of players – Birgit Prinz, Sun Wen, Bettina Wiegmann, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Julie Foudy being the others – who have scored at four different World Cups.
The stat
53,508 – The number of spectators packed into the Commonwealth Stadium for the opening match, the highest-ever crowd for an international match involving Canada in any sport, men and women combined.
The words
“With all the pressure on her – my goodness, there’s only one woman in the world who can get up there and do that,” Canada coach John Herdman, referring to Christine Sinclair’s last-minute penalty.
Next matchday
Sunday 7 June (all times local)
Group B
Norway-Thailand (Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, 13.00)
Germany-Côte d’Ivoire (Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, 16.00)