Canadian national women’s soccer team head coach John Herdman's dream of captain Christine Sinclair raising the World Cup trophy as champion in her hometown was snapped by a three-minute nightmare.
Two costly mistakes in the 11th and 14th minutes spelled the end of Canada's World Cup hopes Saturday as goals by Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze helped England outlast the host nation, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver on Saturday.
Canada's defense was shaky throughout the tournament, but the backline that bent yet wouldn't break, sprung a large leak that Taylor took advantage of to put Canada down early. Shortly after, Bronze capitalized on an error by Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who had been solid to date, to give sixth-ranked England a lead from which Canada couldn't recover.
Sinclair replied before the end of the first half, but despite pressure in the second half eighth-ranked Canada couldn't get the equalizer, missing out on an opportunity to play in the semifinals on Canada Day, ending its tournament before a record Canadian soccer crowd of 54,027 at B.C. Place. Canada’s only goal was the 155th goal of Sinclair’s career, bringing her to within three shy of U.S.A. striker Mia Hamm for second on the all-time scoring list.
England, which reached the quarterfinals by rallying to beat Norway in the Round of 16, will advance to face defending champion Japan on Canada Day in one semifinal. The winner will face either world No. 1 Germany or the U.S. in the championship final back in Vancouver on the following Sunday.
Canadian defender Lauren Sesselmann, who struggled throughout the tournament after shifting into central defense from the left back position, lost possession of the ball in the middle with nobody to help in behind. Taylor took the gift, came in on McLeod and sent a low drive into the right side of the goal to give England the lead in a match.
Just three minutes later, Bronze increased England's lead to two. Off a long free kick into the box, Bronze positioned herself in behind Canadian midfielder Ashley Lawrence and headed the ball off the crossbar and down over the goal line, stunning the crowd.
Mistakes weren't only limited to Canada's back.
Striker Melissa Tancredi failed to convert a great chance to give Canada an early lead in the eighth minute. Sinclair made a fantastic run down the right sideline, then turned into the middle of the field before sending a long pass off her left foot to Tancredi on the far side. Tancredi corralled the pass, turned back into the middle and sent a point-blank shot over the crossbar.
She then had another chance in the18th minute to cut Canada's deficit to one, but her header off a Sophie Schmidt free kick from the sideline sailed over the crossbar.
The missed opportunities negated another strong start to a game that saw Canada take the play to a team it beat 1-0 in a pre-tournament friendly in Hamilton on May 29. Though Canada entered the match with five players on cautions, Herdman's side played with a spirited pace and confidence, resulting in Tancredi's early chance.
Sinclair breathed life back into Canada and her hometown crowd when she struck for her second goal of the tournament in the 42nd minute. The native of Burnaby sent a pass into the middle of the penalty area to Lawrence, who curled around and sent a shot on goal that England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley got her hands on, but couldn't control, leaving the trailing Sinclair a loose ball she slotted into the goal.
A full half of play, momentum and England's 52nd minute substitution of backup goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain in for Bardsley, suffering from a swollen eye, appeared to give Canada a window of opportunity.
But Mark Sampson's team withstood Canada's pressure and the electric crowd, defending well in numbers and not allowing Canada to generate strong scoring opportunities.
Looking to ignite the offense, Herdman brought speedy striker Adriana Leon into the game in the second half and she created Canada's best chance in the 83rd minute when she sent a centering ball that Schmidt one-timed with her left foot over the goal.
Not even substituting 2012 London Olympics hero Diana Matheson, playing in her first game after returning from a leg injury, could re-create the magic that led to her bronze-medal winning goal.
The Canadian players, many tearful and overcome with emotion, saluted the crowd, which broke the attendance record set in Canada's Round of 16 win over Switzerland last Sunday, also at B.C. Place. That match set a record erasing the record that was set in Canada's tournament opener against China at Edmonton's Commonwealth stadium.
Canada will next focus on preparing to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
