Sinclair Becomes 2nd All-Time International Scorer

It’s the time of the year where we have sights set on the upcoming world stage and Canada’s National Soccer Team makes moves of advancing.

Canada’s Women’s National Team all but secured a spot in the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship Texas 2016 semi-final with its 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

The team deemed the biggest threat to Canada in Group B with only a loss to Guatemala on the 16th combined with a double-digit victory by Trinidad and Tobago over Guyana could knock Canada out of the group stage.

Diana Matheson wearing the captain’s arm-band opened scoring in the 24th minute with a brilliant run to the net.

Melissa Tancredi added one after driving to the net and getting her head on the ball with a minute left in the first half.

The second half saw Canada came with energy and confidence, but it was Christine Sinclair’s goal in the 63rd minute that ignited the team’s fire.

This a short two minutes after entering the game put’s her as the 2nd all-time scorer in international soccer only behind USA retired player Abby Wambach.

This was followed by goals from teammates Kadeisha Buchanan (67^th minute), Janine Beckie (76^th minute), and Jessie Fleming in the 80^th minute.

Coach Herdman stated “It’s great for us and was a bit of a statement against a team like Trinidad, which teams in this tournament have struggled against in the past.”

He continued “We really wanted to show that we’re here to play and also to get our berth into the semi-final which is the most important thing.”

Herdman mentioned that both Trinidad and Tobago as a team that had a great run in 2014 with a strong match against the USA and mentioned the intent going in and getting the end result – a win.

He stated “We were just ruthless tonight and that was the mindset going in.”

He continued “We knew what they were going to try and do, they were looking to try and press from the start, with an offensive four-four-two line up, and they were going to go for it.”

Sinclair also expressed her pleasure with Canada’s performance and attaining goals the group has set for themselves as they look to repeat a podium performance at this summer’s Olympic Games.

In customary Sinclair fashion, she was pleased but modest when asked about surpassing her childhood idol Mia Hamm in goals.

“It’s an incredible honour,” said Sinclair after the match. “But it’s so nice to get it off my back. I had a couple of games without scoring a goal and it was weighing on me a little bit, so it’s nice to get it out of the way and allow myself, and the team, to focus on our goal for this tournament, which is to qualify for the Olympics.”

Thanks to Soccer Canada for the press release.