On a rainy night in Perth, Canada weathered an early storm and set its ship right at the Women’s World Cup.
To say that the Canadians got off to a rough start before bouncing back to win 2-1 would be like saying that it was lightly sprinkling in Australia’s western capital on Wednesday morning.
Just four minutes into the match, the Republic of Ireland found itself leading the Olympic champions.
Right from the start, Ireland was applying the pressure and used it to earn a corner. That’s when Katie McCabe stepped up and put the ball straight into the back corner of the net with Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan failing to tip the ball over the bar.
That sent the pro-Irish crowd into a roar, having watched the Girls in Green score their first-ever Women’s World Cup goal and also the fastest goal of the tournament so far.
“I think the first 20 minutes, the occasion got to them,” Canada manager Bev Priestman said. “It was like playing Australia at home again.”
For most of the first half, it was the same nightmarish scenario from the opener for Canada – it was up against a team that would defend well, apply pressure when needed and force mistakes.
Priestman had made two changes to the starting XI, inserting midfielder Jessie Fleming, who missed the first game against Nigeria with a calf injury, and striker Evelyn Viens. They replaced captain Christine Sinclair and Deanne Rose, who had struggled in the first game and was subbed at halftime.
But there was no immediate impact where many thought a boost would come.
Fleming provided some decent looks on set pieces, but didn’t make the impact on the game that many were expecting. Viens attempted to make a few runs, but any long pass attempts were overhit.
When Canada did get chances, they were of low quality. Just like in the opener, too many crosses were poorly played with some going straight out of play. Shots were taken from distance with little hope beating Irish goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
Finally, during first-half injury time, Canada found a fortunate break through.
A cross by Julia Grosso would take a touch off defender Megan Connolly and squeak past Brosnan to knot the game up before the break.
But it was the intermission when things really picked up for Canada.
Priestman made three subs, bringing on Sinclair, Sophie Schmidt and Shelina Zadorsky for Viens, Grosso and Kadiesha Buchanan, who had missed training with an illness earlier in the week.
The moves gave Canada new life, applying pressure and looking more fluid in attack than we have seen so far in the tournament.
It all paid off in the 53rd minute, when Adriana Leon got on the end of a perfectly weighted through ball from Schmidt and slotted it home.
Canada had taken the lead and did not look back.
“Second half, that’s what I love about this team,” Priestman said. “They did whatever it took to win. We know how to win. And we did it when it really matters.
“And I thought the likes of Sophie Schmidt, Christine Sinclair, they brought their experience in when it really mattered and I’m super proud.”
Sinclair was one of the best players on the pitch in the second, linking up well with Jordyn Huitema – who had a wealth of chances but wasn’t able to convert. The captain’s presence certainly helped pull things together after that shaky first 45 minutes.
“I think gutsy kinda sums it up pretty well,” Leon said. “First half wasn’t great from us, we pulled together in the second half and came out a lot quicker and better and got the three points.”
Priestman will now have further decisions to make with her squad. Will Sinclair remain on the bench to start after providing such a boost? Will Schmidt keep her role a super-sub, having also given the team a second-half boost against Nigeria?
Whatever Priestman decides, her team’s biggest test is up next with a match against the co-hosts, Australia, in what should decide the winner of Group B.
The Aussies play Nigeria on Thursday and that outcome will also figure into Canada’s hopes of making it into the knockout phase.