Canadian NWT’s offence needs to solve its Sinclair dependency
Is it possible to be concerned about the Canadian women’s soccer team’s inability to score goals?
It’s a question that has been repeatedly asked over the years, particularly as captain Christine Sinclair draws closer to retirement. After Canada’s 0-0 draw with South Korea in an international friendly at Toronto’s BMO Field on Sunday, the long-standing issue of Canada’s scoring problems was again brought up.
Canada possessed 67% of the possessions, while South Korea had an 11-3 advantage. Despite their statistical dominance, the Canadians were not threatening in attack and struggled to create scoring opportunities against an opponent that was deep in numbers.
Three of Canada’s four goals on target came in injury time, off a corner kick. This was due to the high quality of South Korea’s defense organization that day. Yoon Younggeul, goalkeeper, had little to do before that.
The game was Canada’s lone tune-up ahead of the CONCACAF W Championship, which runs July 4-18 in Mexico. The World Cup will be hosted by the two top-ranked nations in each group of the eight-team competition. The CONCACAF W winner automatically qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics.
Coach Bev Priestman believes that the stalemate in Toronto gave her Canadian team a taste of what is to come in Mexico. She expects first-round opponents Trinidad & Tobago, Panama and Costa Rica to take a page out of South Korea’s playbook and bunker down in an attempt to frustrate the Olympic champions.
WATCH: Canada’s late efforts are thwarted by South Korea’s goalkeeper| South Korea goalkeeper stuffs Canada’s late efforts:
Canada had three chances to win the game as time expired, but they were all denied at the goal line.
“It was the best preparation because we’re playing against teams at a [defensive] block,” Priestman told reporters after the game. “There were many fouls, many stoppages in the game. This is what we’re going up against. It was important for the group to have that experience again before CONCACAF.
It’s fair enough. But what can Canada do next month to make sure it gets a spot at the World Cup next year? In Priestman’s view, it’s just doing more of the same — dominating possession, but making it count for something.
“We have to accept that. Sometimes shots are taken from 40 yards. Priestman said, “I think it’s the patience and getting the ball into a box in a different manner. Not just relying upon wide crosses.” said.
Canada’s attack sequences on Sunday were largely down the flanks, through Jayde Riviere and Ashley Lawrence, while Janine Beckie made a few crosses into the penalty box from far areas. With Jessie Fleming playing a more advanced attacking role, Canada was missing a key orchestrator in central midfield and there was very little creativity and directness in attack through the middle of the park.
WATCH: Diana Matheson honored prior to friendly| Diana Matheson honoured prior to friendly:
The Canadian soccer legend was honored in a retirement ceremony prior to Canada’s friendly against South Korea.
Beckie acknowledged that Korea is very organized and a very defensive group.
It is important to have a variety in the attack, but can this Canadian team mix it up? While the team’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics was impressive, the gold medal run was largely due to its defensive strength rather than its offensive power. Only once did the Reds score multiple goals in six games. All four of their victories were won by one goal or via penalty shootouts.
It would have been a shame for Canada not to use Sinclair to provide some much-needed inspiration in the attack against the Korean defensive forces. After suffering a minor injury during training, Sinclair watched the whole game from the bench.
Priestman was hesitant to use Sinclair on Sunday because she feared that Sinclair might injure her injury, making her unfit for next month’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. Watching the anonymous performance of Jordyn Huema, a 21-year-old forward, on Sunday will make it clear why Priestman gave Sinclair the rest of the day to ensure that she’ll be available to play for Mexico.
But it says something about this team that it is still relying on Sinclair to guide it in its hour. Sinclair will turn 40 next July if Canada qualifies for the World Cup. Sinclair is certainly capable and capable of producing magic moments on the pitch. However, it’s quite shocking that she still carries the bulk Canada’s attacking burden on her broad shoulders.
It’s been obvious for years that the Canadian women’s team had to get off Sinclair dependency. Someone else has to take over the offensive. We are still waiting for this to happen.
They are unlikely to be haunted at the CONCACAF W Championship. The reigning Olympic champions are expected not to finish in the top 2 of their first round group and secure a World Cup spot.
But at some point, if Canada is to evolve, other players must emerge from Sinclair’s shadow and take over the attacking reins, and it can’t happen soon enough.
Source: CBC Sports
