Sinclair and Canada defeat Chile 2-1

Sinclair played the full 90 minutes in Canada’s 2-1 win over Chile. Janine Beckie provided the Canadian goals.

The match got off to a quick start. Both teams had opportunities to open the scoring within the first 10 minutes. Chile floated a corner kick to Kailen Sheridan’s back post but Sheridan was able to make the save after a dangerous Chilean shot.

Christine Sinclair was active early. She received between the lines and drove often at the Chilean defense. In the sixth minute, Canada had the ball in the back of the net, but for the second consecutive match, the Canadians had a goal waved off. Kadeisha Buchanan played it to Nichelle Prince at the top of the 18-yard box. Prince played it wide to Janine Beckie. Buchanan continued her run into the box and got on the end of the Beckie cross. Her shot ricocheted off a defender and off her hand causing the referee to disallow the goal for a handball.

Canada was able to dominate possession and pin Chile in their own half as the Canadians picked off outlet passes and sustained waves of pressure. In the 19th minute, the referee went to VAR to review a collision in the box. Sinclair was taken down in the box and Beckie stepped to the penalty spot. Beckie side-footed the ball off the post and out for a goal kick.

Sinclair fired from the top of the box, first time with her left foot after a surgical counter attack. She curled her shot just wide of Christiane Endler’s post in the 26th minute.

Canada opened the scoring in the 38th minute. Prince accelerated down the right flank and blasted in a cross. Endler dove to parry it and it fell to Beckie, who shot and into an open net and gave Canada a deserved lead heading into halftime.

Beckie doubled Canada’s lead in the 47th minute. Prince cut inside and slid the ball behind the Chilean back line and Beckie ran onto it. She took a touch around the diving Endler and poked it into the net.

Shelina Zadorsky gave Chile a lifeline in the 56th minute as she conceded a penalty after a poor challenge and a VAR review. Karen Araya sent Sheridan the wrong way and halved Canada’s lead, scoring Chile’s first-ever Olympic goal.

In the 73rd minute, Chile nearly equalized but the ball smashed off the post. Canada continued to search for a third goal which left space in transition for Chile to exploit. The match became very back and forth with both teams threatening but neither was able to create clear cut looks on goal.

Canada will play their final match of the group stage on Tuesday, July 27. The Canadians will kickoff against Great Britain at 4:00 a.m. PST.

The USWNT bounce back against New Zealand, winning 6-1

Crystal Dunn and Lindsey Horan started in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s victory over New Zealand. The USWNT collected their first three points of the Olympics. Horan earned her 100th USWNT cap and marked it with a goal.

The U.S. dominated possession throughout the match. The U.S. pinned New Zealand deep in their own half as they looked to pick the Kiwis apart. New Zealand did threaten on the counter. In the seventh minute, Hannah Wilkinson forced Alyssa Naeher into a diving save.

Two minutes later, the U.S. looked long to Carli Lloyd. She headed it into the path of Horan. A Kiwi defender got a touch which took the ball into the path of Tobin Heath. She slotted Rose Lavelle into the box and Lavelle curled the ball past the keeper at the near post.

Wilkinson had a chance to equalize in the 17th minute, but her header flew wide of the post. In the 19th minute, the U.S. linked up well down the right and Lavelle fired into the side netting.

The U.S. put the ball in the back of the net four more times in the first half. Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, and Horan all scored, but all three of the goals were ruled off for offside.

Wilkinson had another great opportunity to equalize in the 43rd minute. The Kiwis countered well and swung in an early cross. Wilkinson peeled off the back shoulder of Abby Dahlkemper and headed just wide of Naeher’s goal.

Horan put the ball in the back of the net in the 45th minute and made it 2-0. Julie Ertz headed a corner kick back across goal and Horan rose and headed it home.

The U.S. were methodical to start the second half. They kept possession and built from the back. New Zealand were unable to get out of their half and the U.S. piled on the pressure, but struggled to create opportunities on goal.

In the 63rd minute, Horan and Emily Sonnett played a one-two down the right and Horan crossed to Lloyd. Lloyd headed it toward Heath and Abby Erceg headed it into her own net, making in 3-0.

The Kiwis got one back after Paige Satchell bodied off Dahlkemper and squared to Betsy Hassett, who shot into an empty net.

Christen Press sealed the result in the 81st minute. Ertz played a lofted ball to Press, who made a run into the box. She settled the ball with her thigh before placing the ball in the bottom corner.

Alex Morgan added a fifth goal. Press curled a cross into the box. Heath left it for Morgan, who dispatched calmly.

An own goal would haunt New Zealand again late in the match. Sam Mewis crossed to Press. Press mishit her shot into Catherine Bott, who rolled the ball into her own net.

Horan and Dunn were replaced in the 84th minute. Becky Sauerbrunn was an unused substitute and Adrianna Franch didn’t make the 18-player squad.

The U.S. will close Group G play on Tuesday, July 27. They will kickoff at 1:00 a.m. PST against Australia.