A victory over the Republic of Ireland has taken Canada to the top of Group B at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The 2:1 win on Wednesday in Perth gives Canada four points after two matches. The match winner was scored by Adriana Leon.
“That’s what I love about this team, they know how to win and they did it when it really mattered,” Bev Priestman Canada’s head coach told media.
Ireland’s Katie McCabe scored Ireland’s only goal in the fourth minute of the game. Canada’s equalizer came at the end of the first half, with own goal by Ireland’s Megan Connolly who redirected a shot from Julia Grosso.
Leon’s match winner, her first goal in a FIFA World Cup, came eight minutes into the second half.
“We pulled together in that second half,” said Leon. “We just needed to get on the ball a little more and live on it and bring our confidence. We did that.”
Jessie Fleming who didn’t play the opening match in which Canada drew with Nigeria says the team is happy to pick up three points.
“It’s tournament football, so every team is going to be difficult to play against. Ireland gave us a good challenge today so we’re happy to get our three points,” Flemming stated.
Canada will face the co-hosts Australia in the group finale in Melbourne on Monday 31 July (20.00 local / 06.00 ET / 03.00 PT).
Australia who won their opener against Ireland, is at the no.2 spot in Group B, and will play their second group match versus Nigeria Thursday. A win against the African team will take them to the next round irrespective of how they fare against Canada.
