Five goals from tournament top scorer Christine Sinclair saw Canada past plucky England and one step closer to inaugural laurels at the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. With one step to go before the final, the victory sets up a semi-final clash with powerful Brazil in Edmonton.
The intriguing clash of styles began with a bit of enthralling back and forth in the opening moments, but team Canada grabbed the vital goal as a well-lofted corner kick - the first of the game - from Carmelina Moscato found the head of super striker Sinclair some four yards from goal. The striker made no mistake, slamming an emphatic header past Toni-Anne Wayne (1:0, 4').
England - shocked into action - hit out on the attack in search of an all-important equaliser.
Group A winners Team Canada, though, continued to look the sharper side with a flurry of attacks and a pronounced aerial advantage over the stubby English.
A good turn and ball from Emily Westwood nearly picked out little Ellen Maggs charging toward goal, but Erin McLeod was off her line like a snap, bravely down at English feet to snuff out the attack (25').
And again, the English looked dangerous as Ward beat the offside trap, forcing McLeod into an heroic save (32').
But, after all that, it was Canada that grabbed a goal on the counter. Moscato put Sinclair clean through on Wayne, and the star striker slotted the most clinical of finishes into the side netting (2:0, 36').
The red-clad North Americans added another just before the half as scramble in the box saw Katie Thorlakson poke the ball lethargically over Wayne's line through a forest of legs (3:0, 44').
Canada emerged from the locker room in fine fettle, and Sinclair added another goal to her extensive tally as a flicked-on free kick fell to the far post. Sinclair pounced to fire her shot past an advancing Wayne (4:0, 52').
The Canadians continued to turn the screws, heaping heavy pressure on the haphazard English defence, but sprightly Arsenal striker Ellen Maggs hit back for pride and England as she rounded Sasha Andrews and fired a rocket to the top corner from a tough angle (4:1, 64').
England snatched another goal back as a defensive mix-up allowed Emily Westwood in to poke the ball past a flailing McLeod (4:2, 80').
The hosts grabbed two more goal just before the final whistle as Sinclair again snuck in to slip the ball past Wayne from close range (5:2, 90'), and again from close range after the ball came bounding off the post (6:2, 90'+) .
It proved the final goal, as England could never really find a consistent way past their imposing hosts.
Canadian coach Ian Bridge was excited after the match. "This was a typical Christine Sinclair performance. She gets chances and more likely than not - buries them ... England created more chances than any team we have met thus far and had great possession in midfield"
England coach Mo Marley had an interesting comment. "These kind of games are very important for the development of women's football in England ...We never gave up and just tried to focus on our football"
Source: www.fifa.com
