Canadian women crush Morocco in international soccer friendly in Spain
CBC
Despite missing captain Christine Sinclair and other veterans through injury, Canada coach Bev Priestman got two wins and some young players putting up their hands in the October FIFA international window.
Evelyne Viens scored one goal and helped set up two others as Canada defeated Morocco 4-0 in an international women's soccer friendly in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on Monday, following a 2-0 victory Friday over Argentina.
"It's getting more and more exciting as a coach when you look down your bench — whoever starts, whoever finishes, you know that the whole team has a contribution towards the win," said Canada coach Bev Priestman.
Viens, 25, notched her third goal in her 12th Canada appearance and was a threat all game.
"She just looks like she's enjoying herself rather than have the weight of the world on her shoulders. I just asked her to relax and do exactly what she does at [her] club. And arguably she's done that. I'm really happy for her," Priestman said of Viens, who plays for Sweden's Kristianstads DFF.
WATCH l Fleming, Viens opened up floodgates to 4-0 victory:
The pacey 23-year-old Larisey opened her senior scoring account in her third appearance.
And a pair of 19-year-olds excelled. Jade Rose started at centre back and looked calm and composed while midfielder Simi Awujo impressed off the bench.
It took a while to get going, however.
Morocco, ranked 76th in the world, proved to be a stubborn opponent to break down. The seventh-ranked Canadians had 73 per cent possession in the first half but only managed three shots on target with Fleming providing the go-ahead goal in the 24th minute.
"The first half I was really disappointed. Second half, I liked the response," said Priestman.
"There's never an easy international," she added. "These teams are resilient and they'll do anything to try and make your lives difficult in these games. At the end of the day 4-0 I'll take it across 90 minutes. I just wish we could get that first-half performance back."
The Atlas Lionesses, headed to their first-ever World Cup, were runner-up to South Africa at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in July.
Canada downed No. 31 Argentina on Friday in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain, taking the lead on a 68th-minute Argentine own goal and 87th-minute strike by substitute Cloe Lacasse. Morocco lost 4-0 to No. 32 Poland last Thursday in Seville, Spain.
