Canada’s strike force of Melissa Tancredi and Christine Sinclair were on target to wrap up their team’s first victory of the 2012 Olympic Games against South Africa.
Canada 3 South Africa 0- Result
Canada’s strike force of Melissa Tancredi and Christine Sinclair were on target to wrap up their team’s first victory of the 2012 Olympic Games against South Africa.
Tancredi’s second goal in two matches and the 18th and 19th international goals in 18 matches in 2012 for Sinclair proved enough as South Africa suffered their second successive defeat at the City of Coventry Stadium.
Canadian and South African fans were enjoying their Olympic Football with giant footballs being passed from the front to the back of the stands – and back again!
Big hats, wigs, mini flags, posters and lots of dancing – some choreographed, some not! – all added to the atmosphere as London 2012 continued in Coventry.
On the pitch, Canada made their planned goalkeeper rotation with Karina LeBlanc starting, rather appropriate since she plays for Sky Blue FC in America, while South Africa also made a change to their No 1 with Thokozile Mndaweni taking her place between the posts.
And it was Mndaweni who was picking the ball out of her net in only the eighth minute as Canada grabbed an early lead.
Sophie Schmidt released Diana Matheson with a pin-point pass down the right wing and her cross was met by a low strike from six yards by Tancredi.
Canada kept up the pressure two minutes later, Matheson’s cross – this time from the left – was punched onto her own post by the keeper.
Tancredi’s confidence shone through as she met a header from Lauren Sesselmann’s left-wing cross which hit the side-netting from close range.
South Africa were forced to defend once again when Rhian Wilkinson’s fierce cross from the right was palmed over the bar by Mndaweni with Kaylyn Kyle having timed her run from midfield ready to pounce.
However, the newcomers to the Olympic Games created an opening when Andisiwe Mgcoyi won the ball in a challenge with Carmelina Moscato only to underhit a shot which was no trouble for Canada’s most-capped keeper of all time.
Portia Modise – who scored such a spectacular goal from 40 yards on Wednesday – this time had a much nearer effort from 22 yards which fell safely into the hands of LeBlanc.
South Africa should have capitalised on a mix-up in the Canadian defence between Moscato and Robyn Gayle when they both let the ball bounce. It allowed Mpumi Nyandeni to nip in to send a close-range shot crashing against the bar in the 31st minute.
LeBlanc allowed Kylie Louw’s rocket shot from the perimeter of the box bounce in front of her before grabbing the ball as South Africa began to show more attacking threat.
Two minutes after the re-start, Louw’s cross from the right was headed onto the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box by Modise.
Canada’s all-time record women’s goalscorer Sinclair was well marshalled until the 56th minute when she snapped up a clearance from defender Amanda Sister to fire in a shot which the keeper palmed away at her near post.
South Africa failed to heed the warning because three minutes later Canada doubled their lead courtesy of Sinclair.
A great left-wing cross from Sesselmann saw Sinclair rise above her marker to send a bullet header against the bar and just over the line. She made certain by hitting the ball into the back of the net for her 138th goal in international football.
Despite the scoreline, a trio of South African fans were on their feet, waving their country’s flag, dancing and encouraging everyone to clap their team as they tried to reduce the deficit.
But it was Canada who nearly added a third goal with eight minutes left when Matheson’s swerving piledriver from 25 yards thundered against the bar.
Sinclair wrapped up the victory in the 86th minute when she collected Sophie Schmidt’s pass, and with two defenders trailing behind, she ran on to coolly place a right-footed shot beyond the keeper and into the net.
There was still time for substitute Jonelle Filigno to also hit the woodwork as Canada secured a comfortable victory.
