Women’s soccer team wins game, loses Sinclair

By: Rachael Bishop

The Canadian national women’s soccer team picked up a 3-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff this weekend in its return to the pitch. The game was one of two friendlies [exhibition game] for the team during the month of April (the other one is scheduled for April 13th against England) as part of its preparation for the Tokyo Olympics this July. The match was the first for Team Canada after its disappointing third place showing at the SheBelievesCup in February; an invitational, round robin tournament held in the United States consisting of four nations.

The match against Wales was also notable because it marked the return of three key players who were not made available for the SheBelieves Cup due to quarantine regulations and injury: starting defender/midfielder Ashley Lawrence (Paris-Saint Germain Feminine), striker [designated goal scorer] Jordyn Huitema, (also from PSG Feminine), and of course, Christine Sinclair, the captain (soccer’s all-time leading international goal scorer, male or female). Due to a COVID-19 outbreak on Olympique Lyonnais Feminine, starting central defender Kadeisha Buchanan was unable to join to club in Wales.

For Huitema, Lawrence, and Sinclair, the game marked their first competitive game for Canada in over a year as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. There was some concern about how the three would play with several new players, along with a new head coach and system in place, but all three looked in top form and did not miss a beat.

Lawrence, utilizing her incredible footwork, made two beautiful passes to set up the second and third goals for the Canadians, while Huitema, who has already become the highest scoring Canadian in the UEFA Women’s Champions League at just 19 years old, almost scored on several occasions. Sinclair, in her return from injury, looked like, well, Christine Sinclair. Unfortunately, she injured her leg while trying to make a diving play in the first half, and did not return to the game. Canada head coach Bev Preistman said after the game that she did not believe the injury was serious, a huge relief for Canada and fans of women’s soccer.

If Canada – the two-time defending Olympic bronze medallists – hopes to be a legitimate gold-medal contender at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, Sinclair needs to be healthy. Canada is unlikely to win without her.