Canada’s women’s national team are going to have to settle for a third place game at the Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino after playing Brazil to a scoreless draw on Wednesday.
After Chile beat Scotland 4-3 earlier in the day, Canada needed a win in order to make the final but despite getting their chances, they couldn’t find the winner they needed and will be playing Scotland for third on Sunday.
Canada had to play the final 15 minutes of the game down a player after Lauren Sesselmann was sent off for a foul. The foul came just seconds after Adriana Leon was through on goal but went down with what was potentially a shout at a penalty.
But even down a man, Canada looked to get the better chances and could have snatched a late winner.
Christine Sinclair led a Canadian chance in the 87th minute when Sinclair played a hard ball to Sophie Schmidt, who knocked it onto Diana Matheson. The diminutive midfielder won some space on the right side but she couldn’t get much behind the shot and it was saved.
The chances kept coming as Matheson was played in on the right in stoppage time. She had the option to pass to Sophie Schmidt or shoot and she opted to shoot but put it right at the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Matheson provided Canada with one final chance, playing the ball into Schmidt in the air. The ball was loose just a few yards in front of the goal line but couldn’t get there in time to put the ball in.
In the first half, neither side created much in the way of chances. Late in the first half, Sinclair had the ball in the back of the net after latching onto a chip from Matheson but she was ruled offside.
Canada had a starting XI with Erin McLeod in goal and Rhian Wilkinson, Emily Zurrer, Kadeisha Buchanan, and Lauren Sesselmann on the back line. Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt, Christine Sinclair, Brittany Baxter, and Adriana Leon made up the midfield and attack.
In the second half, Canadian head coach John Herdman replaced Baxter with Kaylyn Kyle (57’), Wilkinson with Sura Yekka (82’), Scott with Selenia Iacchelli (86’), Leon with Carmelina Moscato.
Brazil’s starting XI had Thais Picarte in goal with Rilany, Bruna Benites, Andreia Rosa, and Thaisa making up the back line. Tamires, Debinha, Formiga, Rosana, Marta, and Cristiane made up the midfield and attack.
