Canadian women win bronze medal at Algarve Cup in penalty shootout

Sophie Schmidt, Deanne Rose, Ashley Lawrence, Janine Beckie and Kadeisha Buchanan all converted their penalties against the ninth-ranked Swedes.

With Sinclair missing Canada’s second penalty attempt, the pressure was on. But Labbe stopped the Swedes’ fourth try to restore parity. And when the Canadian ‘keeper came up big on Sweden’s seventh attempt, Fleming stepped up to seal the deal.

Fifth-ranked Canada wins the bronze despite scoring just one goal in its three matches at the 12-team women’s soccer tournament. But it also did not concede a goal.

No. 34 Poland faced No. 13 Norway in the championship game.

It was 0-0 after 90 minutes with Canada outshooting Swden 8-7, although the Swedes had a 4-3 edge in shots on target

It was an entertaining contest with chances at both ends on a windy day at a largely empty Estadio Algarve, which was built for Euro 2004. As had been the case earlier in the tournament, Canada pressured its opposition but had trouble converting that into goals.

Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller made two chances from the starting lineup that beat Scotland 1-0.

Labbe replaced Erin McLeod in goal while Nichelle Prince came in for Jordyn Huitema. Canada continued with a back three with Shelina Zadorsky and Schmidt flanking Buchanan.

It was an even opening but gradually Canada began to exert some pressure. Lindahl had to tip a looping Prince shot over the crossbar in the 14th minute, crashing into the goalpost in the process.

Prince’s attempt to chip the goalkeeper took a deflection away from goal in the 20th minute.

Canada’s pressing game, meanwhile, disrupted the Swedes’ buildup.

Lindahl, who plays for the Chelsea women’s team in England, came to the rescue in the 26th minute when she just beat Sinclair to the ball in the penalty box after a probing cross from Lawrence.

A minute later, Labbe stopped a Sofia Jakobsson shot hit right at her. At the other end, Lindahl had to be sharp in the 39th minute, beating Prince to a ball at the edge of the box.

Canada threatened late in the half but a timely block by Magdalena Eriksson, another Chelsea player, took care of an Allysha Chapman shot in the penalty box.

A Lawrence goal was called offside in first-half stoppage time. Beckie’s throw-in was chested forward by Sinclair to Fleming, whose cross found Lawrence in front of goal. But Fleming was judged to have been offside.

Prince had a chance in the 48th minute but her header off a Chapman cross went high.

A timely intervention by Amanda Ilestedt prevented what looked like a sure Sinclair goal in the 53rd minute after Prince floated a perfect cross to her captain in front of goal. But Ilestedt got a boot on it to end the threat.

Swedish defender Nilla Fischer then hit the crossbar in the scramble following a corner in the 56th minute. Beckie’s cross hit the top of the goal in the 67th.

With 20 minutes remaining, Canada brought on 20-year-old Rose, 18-year-old Julia Grosso and Lindsay Agnew for Prince, Desiree Scott and Chapman, pushing Schmidt into a more attacking role.

The changes produced immediate pressure but Lindahl handled the Beckie shot that arose from it.

Labbe was up to the task in the 89th minute, cutting out a low Jakobsson cross.

Canada tied No. 22 Iceland in its opening match before defeating Scotland on Sinclair’s 179th international goal. The 35-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., scored No. 179 against Scotland, moving her within five of retired American Abby Wambach’s world record.

Canada’s career record against Sweden improved to 6-13-3 — and 3-1-2 in their last six meetings. The Swedes are also World Cup-bound.

Canada won the Algarve Cup in 2016 and was runner-up in 2017.

The Canadian women finished fifth last year after beating Japan 2-0 in their final match. Canada, second to Sweden in Group B with a 2-1-0 record, was consigned to the fifth-place game after finishing as the second-best runner-up behind Portugal (2-0-1).

The championship game between Sweden and the Netherlands was cancelled due to heavy rain. Both teams were awarded first lace.

After the Algarve Cup, Canada will face fourth-ranked England on April 5 in Manchester in another World Cup warmup.

Canada has been drawn in a group with the seventh-ranked Netherlands, No. 19 New Zealand and No. 46 Cameroon at the World Cup, which starts June 7.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canadian women win bronze medal at Algarve Cup in penalty shootout

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