In their 2-1 win over New Zealand, Canada played like a team that didn’t need a drone to spy on their opponents’ training sessions. Canada outpossessed and outworked New Zealand, holding a significant physical and technical edge.
Before Canada’s highly-anticipated match with New Zealand, an uncredited member of the Canada national team used a drone twice and flew it over the New Zealand practice sessions. Canada assistant coach Jasmine Mander and the analyst took an immediate flight home, while head coach Bev Priestman withdrew from the first match of the Olympics.
“I think this kind of lit a fire in our bellies,” New Zealand forward Indiah-Paige Riley said about the scandal.
Assistant coach and ex-Everton Ladies manager Andy Spence was Priestman’s replacement. His opening minutes came catastrophically. Seemingly with their first chance, New Zealand scored the match’s first goal.
Kitching puts New Zealand up early over Canada
Kiwi midfielder Katie Kitching sent in a corner that rolled into space. Mackenzie Barry cleverly trapped the ball and turned. Her chipped shot beat Canada keeper Kailen Sheridan, bounced off the crossbar, and rolled past the goal line and into the net. Bowen’s impressive finish gave the New Zealand side an early lead they would sit on throughout the first half.
New Zealand sat deep and defended on the back foot for most of the first half, with relative success. Canada couldn’t break down the New Zealand low block, and even when they did, they couldn’t finish well. Multiple attacking moves down the wings were squandered because of poor, shanked shots. Despite easily cutting through the New Zealand defense and picking out holes, they lacked the end product to finish their moves. Canada looked far from their best.
The biggest miss came down the left-hand flank. Nichelle Prince latched on to an Ashley Lawrence cutback, but, hurried under the pressure of the New Zealand defense, sent her shot flying…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/olympics/canada-beats-out-new-zealand-in-gritty-2-1-win/
Author : Deolu Akingbade
Publish date : 2024-07-25 18:11:32
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.