Canadian NWT dominates Trinidad and Tobago in CONCACAF W Championship opener
CBC
A slow start turned into a goal rush Tuesday night as Canada blanked Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 to open play at the CONCACAF W Championship in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Canada, the defending Olympic champion, is ranked sixth in the world compared to No. 76 for Trinidad.
Despite dominating play, Canada held a slim 1-0 lead two-thirds of the way through the match on captain Christine Sinclair's 190th international goal. Determined Trinidad defending and some errant finishing made for Canadian frustration.
But five goals in the final 23 minutes — with four in the last 11 minutes — changed the storyline completely.
The eight-team tournament, which runs through July 18, serves as the qualifier in North and Central America and the Caribbean for both the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Previously World Cup and Olympic qualifying were separate in the region.
WATCH | Sinclair scores 190th international goal in Canada's win:
Canada, whose lack of scoring has been an issue of late, outshot Trinidad 27-1 (9-1 in shots on target) and had 61 per cent possession, according to CONCACAF.
Canada had scored just six goals in its previous six matches this year while going 2-1-3.
"I'm really pleased with six goals and a clean sheet. It's nothing to be scoffed at," Priestman added. "And it wasn't perfect. I was frustrated at times. The players were [frustrated]. But that will come and the confidence will come. And we've just got to keep rolling."
After Sinclair opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a majestic header, Canada endured a drought in front of goal before Grosso, from a nice setup by substitute Huitema, scored on a low left-footed shot in the 67th minute.
Grosso, a 21-year-old midfielder who plays in Italy for Juventus, struck again in the 79th after Trinidad failed to clear a cross. The ball went to Grosso who shifted it to her right foot to get past a defender before firing it home.
It was one-way traffic on the night and Canada could have gone into halftime up 8-0 but instead walked off the field at 1-0.
Canada had 60 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes and outshot Trinidad 16-0 (7-0 in shots on target).
