Honours, celebrations as Canada's women's soccer team downs Nigeria in exhibition game
CBC
The Canadian women's soccer team celebrated their Olympic championship with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in a friendly match on Friday.
Jessie Flemming opened the scoring in the 51st minute and Vanessa Gilles padded the home side's lead with a goal in the 72nd.
Veteran Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé was perfect through the final 45 minutes of her soccer career. She was replaced just after half by Kailen Sheridan, who preserved the clean sheet.
Canada played in red jerseys with each player's name and number emblazoned on the back in gold, a nod to the medal the team won at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
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The Canadians are currently ranked sixth in the world and Nigeria sits at No. 39.
The two sides will meet again for the second game in the B.C. leg of the celebration tour Monday in Langford, B.C.
Canada went up 2-0 in the 72nd minute following a corner kick from Janine Beckie.
Sheridan made her biggest stop of the night in the 68th minute, diving to send a blast from Oyedupe Payne just wide of the post.
Deanne Rose set up the first goal of the game, sending the ball to Flemming at the top of the six-yard box in the 51st minute. Flemming took a sharp-angle shot that went high over the shoulder of goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi.
Oluehi was replaced in net by Nnadozie in the 70th minute after appearing to suffer an injury.
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The second half started with an emotional moment as Sheridan replaced Labbé in goal.
The elder 'keeper saluted the standing, cheering crowd — including an entire section of her friends and family — before hugging her replacement on the sideline.
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