Molinaro
(SLAM! Sports): Canadian U-19s lose to U.S.
by DJT
Saturday, June 30, 2001
Canadian U-19s lose to U.S.
By
JOHN F. MOLINARO -- SLAM! Sports
TORONTO -- The holiday weekend got off
to a bad start for soccer fans as Canada's Under-19 National Women's soccer team
lost 1-0 to the U.S. on a hot and humid afternoon at Varsity Stadium.
A
goal early in the second half by the U.S.'s Mary Boland sealed the victory for
the Americans, who outplayed and outhustled their Canadian hosts for the full 90
minutes.
The U.S. enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first
half, controlling the flow of play in mid-field, while at the same time shutting
Canada down offensively. Canada's forwards were rendered utterly useless by the
stalwart American defense, unable to penetrate the U.S.'s 18-yard box or create
anything remotely resembling a scoring threat.
The Americans, on the
other hand, managed to produce two scoring opportunities. U.S. captain Lindsay
Tarpley clanked one off the post from just outside the 18-yard box in the first
minute of play when Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod was caught way out of
position.
The U.S. squandered another scoring chance in the 25th minute
when forward Kelly Wilson split the defense and went on a one-on-one breakaway
with the goalkeeper before being stripped of the ball by Canada's Lise Backman
from five yards out.
The U.S. were finally able to break the Canadian
defense in the 47th minute when Mary Boland, a second half substitute, took a
cross pass from team-mate Alison Graham and darted down the right side of
Canada's 18-yard box, slipping a low, driving shot just past the outreached left
hand of a helpless Erin McLeod.
The second half was similar to the first
half for Canada, unable to muster any offense at all. The Canadian midfield
tried repeatedly to spring their forwards free with dangerous balls up the
middle, only to have the U.S. defense cut off the pass or scoop up the loose
ball effortlessly.
Canada's first dangerous scoring chance came in the
65th minute when an offensive flurry in the U.S. box resulted in Heather Smith
heading the ball towards an empty goal, only to be cleared off the line by the
U.S.'s Amy Steadman.
The U.S.'s aggressive play in midfield and
calculative rushes forward kept Canada on their back heels for the entire
afternoon, a fact not reflected on the scoreboard.
Spirited play and
hard work from Melanie Booth, Candace Chapman and second-half substitute Kara
Lang were the only bright spots for Canada.
The game was a clean affair,
with only one caution going to Canada's Erin McCallum in the 74th minute for a
rough challenge.
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