Latest news with #CONCACAFWGoldCup
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada scores four late goals to defeat Costa Rica 4-1 in women's soccer friendly
TORONTO – Late goals by Shelina Zadorsky, Holly Ward, Zara Chavoshi and Emma Regan helped Canada to a 4-1 comeback win over a resolute Costa Rica in an international women's friendly Friday. The goals came in the 70th, 74th, 82nd and 86th minute as the eighth-ranked Canadians finally found an answer for No. 43 Costa Rica. A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered Canada on at BMO Field. But while the Canadian women had 81 per cent possession in the first half, they were unable to unlock the Costa Rican defence and went into the break trailing 1-0. Some desperate Costa Rican defending and errant Canadian attacking kept it that way until the 70th minute when Zadorsky, from the penalty spot, ended the Canada misfiring. It was goal No. 7 in 112 appearances for the veteran centre back. Substitute Mimi Alidou won the penalty, taken down by Costa Rican defender Fabiola Villalobos. Ward made it 2-1 in the 74th minute, turning and curling in a lovely shot after fellow substitute Annabelle Chukwu, an 18-year-old Canadian youth international star in her first senior appearance, headed a Jade Rose cross her way It was a second goal in three appearances for Ward, a 21-year-old Vancouver Rise forward who became the first Northern Super League player to score for Canada — in the 3-1 win over Haiti on June 3 in Montreal. Chavoshi made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner for her first Canada goal in her second appearance. Regan's first international goal, an elegant shot from just outside the penalty box, padded the lead in the 86th minute The Canadians now head to Washington, D.C., for a high-profile friendly with the top-ranked U.S. on Wednesday. Costa Rica's Maria Paula Salas opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute off a free kick. Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failed to get a hand to the well-flighted delivery from captain Katherine Alvarado, allowing an unmarked Salas to head the ball home at the far post. Chavoshi committed the foul that led to the free kick, pulling back Priscila Chinchilla after the Costa Rican attacker nutmegged her just outside the Canadian penalty box. The goal prompted a Canadian team huddle in front of goal, one of several on the night. Canada had won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, outscoring the Central Americans 52-6. But they needed a 104th-minute goal to win 1-0 the last time they met, in March 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada had blanked Costa Rica 3-0 in the group stage at the tournament. Prior to the game, coach Casey Stoney was quick to stress before the game that her players were not looking past the Central Americans to the U.S. 'There will be absolutely no complacency,' she said, noting Costa Rica had held the Americans to a scoreless draw last summer. Stoney was true to her word, fielding a strong lineup that included Sheridan, Zadorsky, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens and Julia Grosso. In all, the starters had a combined 756 caps going into the game. It was 22 C, feeling like 26 C at kickoff at BMO Field. There were danger signs early as Alvarado banged a shot off the goalpost in the fourth minute. But Canada began to find its feet, backing up Costa Rica, which was playing in a 4-5-1 formation. Canada had its chances with Leon angling a shot just wide in the 33rd minute. Four minutes later, Costa Rican goalkeeper Noelia Bermúdez made a diving save to deny Grosso. Canada could have had three goals in first-half stoppage time with headers from Leon and Zadorsky and a Fleming shot all missing the target. Costa Rica lost midfielder Alexandra Pinell to an injury just before the break. Canada outshot Costa Rica 8-3 (3-2 in shots on target) in the first half. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Coming off a pair of wins over No. 50 Haiti, the Canadian women came into the game 5-1-1 under Stoney, whose first games in charge were at the Pinatar Cup in Spain in February. The lone loss was a 1-0 setback at the hands of No. 32 Argentina in April in Langford, B.C. The Canadians had defeated the South Americans 3-0 four days earlier in Vancouver. Canada was missing injured defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins and Jayde Riviere, and forwards Olivia Smith and Cloé Lacasse. Friday's game was a special 'Pride Celebration' match, the third in as many years for the Canadian women who wore a special kit featuring Pride-themed numbers. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
While a date with top-ranked U.S. looms, Canada not looking past No. 43 Costa Rica
TORONTO – With a date with the top-ranked United States looming Wednesday in Washington, D.C., the Canadian women take to the field Friday in Toronto against Costa Rica. At No. 43, the Central Americans are ranked 35 places below Canada. But Canada coach Casey Stoney is wary of what awaits at BMO Field. 'I think it's an opponent we can't take for granted,' the former England captain said after training Thursday. 'They got a nil-nil draw against the U.S. last summer.' 'There will be absolutely no complacency,' she added with emphasis. 'We don't allow for that. We go into every game to try to compete to win. And that will be the same Friday and that will be the same next week.' Stoney expects to face a heavy Costa Rican defensive presence that will be hard to break down. 'We should expect to dominate the ball, but with the ball, we have to make sure we're very good on transition,' she said. 'I think it's an improvement we need to do from the last camp. I thought we got caught out a few times there. 'It's about how we can look at relationships on the pitch, how we can create overloads in certain areas and try and break them down. And then it's about a bit of creativity and individual brilliance, when you're trying to beat a (defensive) block as well. There's been some really positive stuff this week in training and I'm really looking forward to seeing how that plays out (Friday).' Canada has won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, outscoring the Central Americans 53-6. But they needed a 104th-minute goal to win 1-0 the last time they met, in March 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada had blanked Costa Rica 3-0 in the group stage at the tournament. Canada has called in Canadian under-20 goalkeeper Noelle Henning to replace Lysianne Proulx, who has had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. Proulx has returned to Italy's Juventus to continue rehabilitation. Friday's game is a special 'Pride Celebration' match, the third in as many years for the Canadian women who will wear a special kit featuring Pride-themed numbers. For veteran defender Vanessa Gilles, it's just the right thing to do. 'It's something that just feels right for us,' said Gilles, now with Bayern Munich. 'Whenever we can, as players and as a team, we try to make people feel comfortable and accepted as they can (be) — and as loved as they can (be) — no matter race, colour, whatever it may be. 'We're very welcoming. As a country, those are the values we try to exude. And as a team we try to live by that. So to be able to be at home for Pride Night as well is huge. I hope a lot of people come and feel the love as well.' Canada Soccer reported Thursday that tickets sales were approaching 10,000 with a bump in sales expected in the final 24 hours. Coming off a pair of wins over No. 50 Haiti, the Canadian women are 5-1-1 under Stoney, whose first games in charge were at the Pinatar Cup in Spain in February. The lone loss was a 1-0 setback at the hands of No. 32 Argentina in April in Langford, B.C. The Canadians had defeated the South Americans 3-0 four days earlier in Vancouver. Costa Rica failed to advance out of the group stage at the 2023 World Cup, losing to No. 2 Spain (3-0), No. 7 Japan (2-0) and No. 65 Zambia (3-1). Canada, under then-coach Bev Priestman, also failed to reach the knockout round after drawing No. 36 Nigeria 0-0, beating No. 25 Ireland 2-1 and losing 4-0 to No 15 Australia, the tournament co-host. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Costa Rica went 0-2-1 in its only other trip to the World Cup, in 2015 in Canada. The current Canadian roster features two Northern Super League players in Emma Regan (AFC Toronto) and Holly Ward (Vancouver Rise FC). Eight other NSL players are also on international duty during the FIFA window, with Jamaica, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Korea and Ukraine. Unavailable for Canada due to injury are defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins and Jayde Riviere, and forwards Olivia Smith and Cloé Lacasse. Buchanan is in town, however, and was working out with a trainer during the Canada practice Thursday. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
Reuters
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
USWNT to face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C.
March 31 - The U.S. Women's National Team will meet Canada in an international friendly on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The top two women's soccer programs in the CONCACAF region, the countries will be facing off at Audi Field in their 67th all-time meeting. Canada and the United States met twice in 2024. The U.S. won both matches on penalty kicks, one in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinal and the other in the SheBelieves Cup final. This match will conclude a set of three early-summer friendlies for the Americans. The USWNT also will play Ireland twice, first on June 26 in Commerce City, Colo., and three days later in Cincinnati.
Washington Post
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Emma Hayes suffers first loss as USWNT coach as Japan wins SheBelieves Cup
SAN DIEGO — Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under Coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game. The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell, 2-0, to Mexico in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The loss also snapped the U.S. team's string of five titles in the SheBelieves Cup, now in its 10th year.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Japan beats United States 2-1 for SheBelieves Cup women's soccer title
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game. The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell 2-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The loss also snapped the U.S. team's string of five titles in the SheBelieves Cup, now in its 10th year. The United States and Japan were both undefeated in the tournament heading into the final match at Snapdragon Stadium. 'Of course we want to win. No one wants to lose these things,' Hayes said. 'But we didn't put out our most experienced team. We put out a team we're hoping to develop, and our goals go beyond just the SheBelieves.' The U.S. had been unbeaten in the last 14 games against Japan. The Americans' last loss to Japan came in 2012. Japan took the early lead with Yuka Momiki's goal in the second minute. But Ally Sentnor tied it for the U.S. in the 14th with an assist from Catarina Macario. Sentnor, the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year, has scored in both her starts for the team. Japan pulled back in front on Koga's goal in the 50th minute. She had come into the match as a second-half substitute. 'They were a higher level to us throughout the whole evening,' said Hayes, now 15-1-2 as the U.S. coach. Hayes, who took over the team late last May and led the team to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, made 10 changes to the roster she used in a 2-1 victory over Australia on Sunday. Jane Campbell got her eighth career start in goal for the national team as Hayes looks to develop goalkeepers after Alyssa Naeher's retirement last year. The U.S. team was playing in the tournament without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia (Smith) Wilson. Rodman is rehabbing a back injury, Smith was not yet in game form and Swanson was out for personal commitments. 'I'd love to have all of our top players available, I want that, but I can only pick the players that are available," Hayes said. "I think you want to learn this lesson now. This is the game I really wanted for us to really see where players who have played less that five matches for the national team, what's really missing for them, whether its in possession or out of possession.' Japan was coming off a 4-1 victory over Colombia on Sunday. Mina Tanaka, who plays for the Utah Royals in the National Women's Soccer League, led all players in with four goals and three assists and was named tournament MVP. Colombia got its first win in its SheBelieves finale earlier Wednesday. Wendy Bonilla and Catalina Usme both scored in the 2-1 victory over Australia. The Matildas, playing without star Sam Kerr, were winless in the tournament. Kerr has not played for the national team since ACL surgery last January. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
