Wales 0-3 Canada: Heavy defeat in Gemma Grainger’s first match in charge
Evelyne Viens of Canada celebrates scoring her sides second goal Wales v Canada Women's International Friendly at Leckwith Stadium on the 9th April 2021. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD
Canada inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Wales in Gemma Grainger’s first game in charge at Leckwith Stadium.
Second-half goals from Evelyne Veins and Jessie Fleming added to Deanne Rose’s first-half strike.
The visitor’s dominated the game as their quality and experience at a high international level shone through.
Canada could have opened the scoring within the first five minutes when Christine Sinclair pinched the ball but her pass for Fleming was intercepted.
The first real chance fell to Canada when Sinclair intercepted a Rachel Rowe pass and shot from distance, but Laura O’Sullivan turned it past the post.
Five minutes later the visitors did have the opener through Rose on 24 minutes.
She fired it into the top corner after breaking behind the Welsh defence thanks to a brilliant pass from Quinn.
Canada’s captain was forced off on 33 minutes of her return through injury after a 50/50 with Ceri Holland.
She was replaced by in-form Paris FC loanee Evelyne Veins for only her fourth Canada cap
Canada could have made it 2-0 in the final minutes of the first half when Shelina Zardowsky hit the side netting.
They did get their second just before the hour mark when Veins fired in a cross for her first international goal.
Wales saw their shouts for a penalty waved away a few minutes later when Natasha Harding went down.
Moments later their heartbreak was doubled when Jessie Fleming bent the ball in from the edge of the area for Canada’s third.
Wales only change saw Esther Morgan make her senior debut when she replaced Lily Woodham on 67 minutes.
Canada could have made it four in the last minute when they pinched a short corner from Wales and countered through Nichelle Prince but Wales recovered to keep it 3-0.
Wales: Laura O’Sullivan, Gemma Evans, Sophie Ingle (C), Rhiannon Roberts, Angharad James, Kayleigh Green, Jess Fishlock, Natasha Harding, Rachel Rowe, Ceri Holland, Lily Woodham (Esther Morgan, 67’)
Yellow Cards: Rachel Rowe 85’
Canada: Stephanie Lebbê, Shelina Zadorsky, Quinn (Sarah Statigakis, 69),, Deanne Rose (Janine Beckie, 55), Jordyn Huitema, (Nichelle Prince, 69) Ashley Lawrence, Desiree Scott (Jayde Riviere, 55), Christine Sinclair (C) (Evelyne Viens, 33), Gabrielle Carle, Jessie Fleming (Julia Grosso, 69), Vanessa Gilles
Goals: Deanne Rose 25’, Evelyne Veins 58’ Jessie Fleming 62’
Recap the action from Leckwith Stadium by reading the game as-it-happened:
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