Canada women’s national team head coach Bev Priestman wants to see another goalfest in the team’s second match in its Olympic gold medal celebration tour on home soil in Montreal.
The team put on a show for the 16,386 in attendance at Saturday’s 5-1 win over New Zealand in Ottawa and Priestman wants “more of the same” after Canada came close to matching its goal output at the 2021 Olympics (six goals scored). The run to its first-ever soccer gold medal was predicated on solid defense, exceptional goalkeeping and timely scoring. But the team hadn’t scored five or more goals since Olympic qualifying in early 2020.
Adriana Leon scored twice and Jessie Fleming, Nichelle Prince and legendary captain Christine Sinclair also found the back of the net. For Sinclair, the world’s leading international goal scorer, it was a 188th career goal for Canada to extend her record. Fleming won woman of the match honors, while Janine Beckie was involved in all five goals from a right back position.
MORE: How Canada won soccer gold in Tokyo
It was a positive first step in Canada’s build-up to the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The team’s next official competitive matches will come in regional World Cup qualifying in July 2022.
The Montreal event could prove a special one for Quebec natives Gabrielle Carle, Vanessa Gilles, Evelyne Viens and Marie Levasseur, who are expected to feature in the match. Gilles started the first match in Ottawa, while Carle came off the bench. Viens and Levasseur did not feature and could start against New Zealand.
How to watch Canada vs. New Zealand
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channels: OneSoccer on TELUS channel 980
Streaming: OneSoccer.ca
The match will be available via OneSoccer which can be accessed two ways: via TELUS channel 980 and at OneSoccer.ca.
The match will be played at Montreal’s Stade Saputo, home of Major League Soccer club Club de Foot Montreal.
Canada vs. New Zealand lineups
Of the 25 players in camp, including 21 members of the Olympic gold medal-winning side, a 21-player squad was selected with the following four players left out of the squad: Jade Rose, Julia Grosso, Victoria Pickett and Nikayla Small. Injured star Ashley Lawrence stayed back with club team PSG in France.
Jade Rose, Pickett and Small were among four training invitees joining the Olympians. The other, Levasseur, made the matchday roster but did not enter the match. Priestman promised changes for the second match against New Zealand and we’ll see just how many she makes compared to how she lined them up on Saturday:
Canada Oct. 23 lineup vs. New Zealand (4-3-3): 1-Stephanie Labbe-GK — 2-Allysha Chapman, 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 14-Vanessa Gilles, 16-Janine Beckie — 5-Quinn, 17-Jessie Fleming, 11-Desiree Scott — 15-Nichelle Prince, 12-Christine Sinclair, 6-Deanna Rose
Canada subs (6): 18-Kailen Sheridan-GK (46’ for Labbe), 4-Shelina Zadorsky (46’ for Gilles), 20-Sophie Schmidt (64’ for Quinn), 19-Jordyn Huitema (64’ for Rose), 9-Adriana Leon (64’ for Sinclair), 21-Gabrielle Carle (73’ for Prince)
Canada unused subs: 22-Erin McLeod-GK, 23-Marie Levasseur, 8-Jayde Riviere, 13-Evelyne Viens
As for New Zealand, only one player from the 22-player roster did not make the matchday squad on Saturday: Maggie Jenkins (Univ. of Central Florida). While veteran Abby Erceg stayed back with the North Carolina Courage, six players received their first call-up and three of them made their debuts: Amelia Abbott, Ava Collins and Jacqui Hand. Aniela Jensen, Sam Tawharu and Tahlia Herman-Watt will hope to do the same in Montreal.
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Due to quarantine requirements that would have to be enforced upon returning to New Zealand and Australia, players based in those countries were not included in the squad. That allowed for the callups of three players who ply their trade in the NWSL, and 10 other players who play collegiate soccer in the USA.
New Zealand Oct. 23 starting lineup (4-2-3-1): 1-Erin Nayler-GK — 7-Ali Riley, 2-Ria Percival, 5-Miekayla Moore, 4-CJ Bott — 11-Olivia Chance, 15-Daisy Cleverley — 16-Emma Rolston, 14-Katie Bowen, 12-Betsy Hassett — 13-Rosie White
New Zealand subs (5): 9-Gabi Rennie (46’ for Rolston), 29-Jacqui Hand (46’ for White), 25-Ava Collins (65’ for Chance) 22-Hannah Blake (80’ for Hassett), 27-Amelia Abbott (87’ for Cleverley)
New Zealand subs not used (5): 23-Victoria Esson-GK, 21-Anna Leat-GK, 30-Tahlia Herman-Watt, 28-Sam Tawharu, 26-Aniela Jensen
MORE: Meet goals world record holder Christine Sinclair
Canada vs. New Zealand: Betting odds & prediction
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
Pick: Canada -2 Asian Handicap spread (-104)
Canada has its first-choice team minus Ashley Lawrence, but this isn’t New Zealand’s top side. The Football Ferns should again be vulnerable defensively, though they can be expected to make adjustments that could keep the scoreline a tad tighter. The -2 Asian Handicap is a push if Canada wins by two goals. If the goal difference is greater, it's a winner.
Prediction: Canada 3, New Zealand 0
Canada vs. New Zealand: Time, TV, streaming for Olympic gold medal tour match in Montreal - Sporting News
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