With bold determination and sheer grit, a devoted gathering of 6,421 soccer enthusiasts endured near zero degree conditions on a Tuesday evening at the open-air Wanderers Grounds, in the vibrant city of Halifax. Their unyielding spirit was rewarded as they witnessed Canada triumph over Brazil with a strong 2-0 score in a gripping women’s soccer encounter.
The thrilling crescendo of the game was witnessed not until halfway into the latter portion of the match. Ashley Lawrence, the formidable fullback hailing from Toronto, skillfully executed a crisp cross. Jordyn Huitema, the agile forward from Chilliwack B.C., was adeptly positioned at the far post, skillfully heading in a straight shot right past the Brazilian goalkeeper, Luciana. The time was around 70 minutes into this highly anticipated friendly match when the net reverberated with Canada’s success.
Canada stunned their opponents once again near the closure of the game, securing their second goal at the 89th minute. Deanne Rose of Alliston, Ont., advanced the ball up the field and impressively managed a right-footed shot from the box centre. The shot was aided by a skilled headed pass from forward Cloe Lacasse of Sudbury, Ont., sparking a wave of cheering draped in red and white that resounded through downtown Halifax.
The Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo of Welland, Ont., demonstrated her prowess on the field, clinching a shutout for Canada and thwarted two attempt-on-target strikes.
This Canada-Brazil clash marked the concluding friendly in a space of four days scheduled between these international rivals. The earlier encounter saw Brazil scraping a narrow 1-0 win in front of yet another full house at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
However, the most enthralling moment for Canadian fans was the introduction of Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair in the 78th minute. Replacing Huitema, the goal scorer, Sinclair’s arrival was met with an uproar of delight from ardent fans. Sinclair’s entrance onto Nova Scotia’s turf was a crucial moment, given it marked her third to last international appearance.
Renowned globally as the all-time leading scorer with an astonishing record of 190 goals in 289 senior appearances, Sinclair plans to retire after her concluding matches in her home province of British Columbia. The first match is slated for Dec. 1 in Langford on Vancouver Island, and the second in Vancouver on Dec. 5, a city conveniently nestled next to Sinclair’s hometown of Burnaby.
It is with a sense of familiar accomplishment and national pride that Canada has officially qualified to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
