Canada, the defending champion, is ranked sixth in the world compared to No. 76 Trinidad. Despite dominating play, Canada held a 1-0 lead two-thirds of the way through captain Christine Sinclair’s 190th international goal. Resolute defending by Trinidad and some errant finishing to Canada’s frustration. Watch Friday’s match against Panama live on OneSoccer at 10pm. ET or rebroadcast on CBC TV and CBC Gem at 12:30 p.m. local time. Watch Monday’s match against Costa Rica live on CBC TV, CBC Gem and OneSoccer at 6:30 p.m. ET But five goals in the last 23 minutes – with four in the last 11 minutes – changed the story completely. Julia Grosso hit twice to open her senior scoring lead with singles from Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie and Jordyn Huitema. The eight-team tournament, which runs until July 18, serves as a qualifier in North and Central America and the Caribbean for both the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Previously, the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers were separate in the region. WATCHES | Julia Grosso scores a pair to lead Canada:
Julia Grosso pulls up a brace in Canada’s battle over Trinidad and Tobago
Julia Grosso scored her first two goals with Canada’s senior soccer team in a dominant 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago at the CONCACAF W Championship in Guadalupe, Mexico. Canada, whose lack of scoring has been an issue of late, outshot Trinidad 27-1 (9-1 on shots on goal) and had 61 percent possession, according to CONCACAF. “The narrative about the lack of goals, I think plays into the intensity of the players,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said. “I was glad to put it to bed now and focus on the process.” Canada had scored just six goals in its previous six matches this season while going 2-1-3. “I’m really happy with the six goals and the clean sheet. It’s nothing to scoff at,” Priestman added. “And it wasn’t perfect. I was disappointed at times. The players were [frustrated]. But that will come and trust will come. And we just have to keep rolling.” WATCHES | Sinclair scores 190th international goal in Canada win:
Sinclair scores his 190th career goal in the win over Canada
Canadian soccer great Christine Sinclair scored Canada’s first goal of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. After Sinclair opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a sublime header, Canada endured a drought in front of goal before Grosso, off a nice set-up by substitute Huitema, scored with a low left-footed shot in the 67th minute. Grosso, a 21-year-old midfielder who plays in Italy for Juventus, struck again in the 79th minute after Trinidad failed to clear a cross. The ball went to Grosso, who shifted it onto her right foot to get past a defender before firing home. Fleming made it 4-0 in the 84th minute, sweeping home Becky’s cross. Trinidad goalkeeper Kimika Forbes could do better in goal. Becky made it 5-0 in the 86th minute with Trinidad’s defense in tatters and Huitema completed the win a minute into stoppage time. It was a one-way street on the night, and Canada could have gone into halftime up 8-0, but instead ran off the field down 1-0. Canada had 60 percent possession in the first 45 minutes and outshot Trinidad 16-0 (7-0 in shots on goal). Canada controlled the game from the start and almost took the lead in the 16th minute when Sinclair, making her 311th appearance for the national team, hit the post after a fine build-up from Dean Rose and Becky. Trinidad’s defense held fast early on, but his clearance attempts always found a Canadian, usually in Trinidad’s end, and the offense started again. Sinclair broke through in the 27th minute, stopping 12 passes from the Canadian, with a header, Ashley Lawrence’s header past Forbes. Eleven of Sinclair’s world record goal totals have been scored in the CONCACAF Championship. Sinclair was brought down in the 29th minute, prompting Mexican referee Katia Garcia to go to a pitchside monitor to review the play before pointing to the penalty spot. Fleming stepped up but missed, firing high in the 34th. Canada unsuccessfully appealed for another penalty when Becky went down in the 37th minute. Forbes rose high to deny Rose’s high, powerful shot in the 45th minute. Becky scored in first-half stoppage time, following an unselfish feed from Sinclair, but the offside flag was raised. Priestman said she told the team at halftime to “take off the handbrake” and express themselves. “Sometimes we get too stuck in a script,” the coach said. Wanting to inject some energy, Priestman made a four-way change with Grosso, Huitema, Allysha Chapman and Adriana Leon coming on with 30 minutes left.
More results, qualification for upcoming events
Canada and Trinidad play in Pool B, along with No. 37 Costa Rica and No. 57 Panama. Group A consists of top seed USA, No. 26 Mexico, No. 51 Jamaica and No. 60 Haiti. Costa Rica beat Panama 3-0 in the previous game on Tuesday at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, located in a suburb of Monterrey. The 51,000-seat stadium is home to Monterrey CF. Canada faces Panama on Thursday at the Estado Universitaro in Monterrey. The top two teams from each of the two groups advance to the semi-finals, qualifying directly for the 2023 World Cup. The two third-placed teams advance to an intercontinental World Cup play-off. The CONCACAF W champion qualifies for both the 2024 Olympics and the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup, also scheduled for 2024. The runner-up and third place will meet in a CONCACAF Olympic playoff, scheduled for September 2023, with the winner booking a ticket to the 2024 Olympics and Gold Cup. Priestman fielded her A-team, led by 39-year-old Sinclair. Lawrence, Beckie, Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan, Desiree Scott and the namesake Quinn also started in front of goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. The Canadians have won all nine meetings with Trinidad and Tobago, beating the Soca Warriors 40-0. Canada also won 6-0 the last time they met, at the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Houston. Canada has won the CONCACAF Championship twice (1998 and 2010) and was runner-up five times (1991, 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2018). He came into the match with a 29 9-1 record in the tournament. Trinidad’s best finish was a third in 1991. Before Tuesday, his career record in the tournament was 7-21-5.
