Match Report: Canada 1-1 Team GB

Photos: @TeamGB

Having already booked their place in the final eight, Team GB faced Canada in their final match of the group stages.

Team GB boss, Hege Riise, opted for quite the mix-up in personnel. Co-captains Steph Houghton and Kim Little were rotated to the bench and so Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle donned the armband for the first time. Midfielder Jill Scott made her first start of the tournament.

Keira Walsh and Lauren Hemp who both started the two previous matches were not named in the squad for this fixture. Fran Kirby and Lotte Wubben-Moy were named as substitutes meaning all players have been named in the matchday squad at least once.

On the other side, Bev Priestman’s Canada lined up differently with some notable absences in their starting eleven. Allysha Chapman, Desiree Scott and captain Christine Sinclair were not named as part of the squad.

Early pressure from Canada kicked us off with a few sloppy clearances in quick succession putting Team GB seemingly on the backfoot. However, after 20 minutes of ‘to-in and fro-ing’ between the two sides, Team GB began to find a little bit of rhythm in retaining possession.

An opportunity arose for Canada at 27 minutes after a throw-in ricocheted off of Leah Williamson’s face, falling loosely into the area close to Canada’s Janine Beckie. The danger was quickly averted by a quick moving Millie Bright who ensured Ellie Roebuck would not be put to the test.

Team GB responded as their first chance of the match fell to Rachel Daly. Jill Scott picked up the ball in the middle of the park and sent it out wide to Daly. Daly collected it well, closing down the space as she drove in centrally. Daly’s shot was interrupted timely by Ashely Lawrence and sent out of touch by Stephanie Labbe.

At 38 minutes Demi Stokes fed in a beautifully timed pass to Nikita Parris just inside the 25-yard box. Parris was off-balance but managed a flick on to Caroline Weir who was square on to goal. Weir could not catch her footing in time and the chance fell to nothing.

Similarly to the first, Canada came out of the blocks looking lively for the second half. By 49 minutes the Canadians had already had themselves a chance as a run down the flank is collected by Evelyn Viens. Her tight angled shot was deflected off of Bright and Roebuck collected comfortably.

Three minutes later the Brits found themselves in hot water again as an error by Roebuck left Canada with the opportunity to capitalise on an open goal. Roebuck misjudge her pass out from the back and gifted the ball straight to Adriana Leon. Once again, Bright put herself on the line and made a crucial block as frictions began to tense.

The first goal of the match came in moments later at 54 minutes. Lawrence made a thundering run down the left-hand side before releasing a perfectly accurate ball to an unmarked Leon. Leon took her shot in with one-touch and sank the ball past Roebuck.

After Canada broke the ice, Team GB began to recompose themselves and found themselves knocking on the door for the last twenty minutes of the match. Notably Weir’s tight left sided shot managed to hit both the crossbar and the post. Eventually the equaliser came around the 82-minute mark when Weir finally managed to pot her first goal of the tournament. After receiving the ball in space, Weir lined up a long range shot and fire it on target. Weir’s effort was deflected by Canada’s Nichelle Prince and bounced its way into the back of the net. Full time: Canada 1-1 Team GB.

A square result means that Team GB finish at the top of the table in Group E. They will go on to face Australia in their quarter-final match on Friday 30th August at 11am (BST).

Canada: Stephanie Labbe (GK), Kadeisha Buchannan (C), Quinn (65’), Deanne Rose (45’), Jayde Riviere, Adriana Leon, Ashley Lawrence (80’), Evelyn Viens (52’), Vanessa Gilles, Janine Beckie (45’), Sophie Schmidt
Substitutes: Kailen Sheridan (GK), Gabrielle Carle (80’), Jessie Fleming (45’), Juila Grosso (65’), Jordyn Huitema (45’), Nichelle Prince (52’), Shelina Zadorsky

Team GB: Ellie Roebuck (GK), Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Demi Stokes, Sophie Ingle (72’) (C), Jill Scott (62’), Caroline Weir, Rachel Daly (62’), Georgia Stanway, Nikita Parris
Substitutes: Sandy MacIver (GK), Lotte Wubben-Moy, Ella Toone, Fran Kirby (72’), Ellen White (62’), Kim Little (62’), Steph Houghton

Photos: @TeamGB

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