In a Princess Auto Stadium, located in Winnipeg, bringing together several thousand spectators, Canada, unsurprisingly, won, this Saturday, May 31 (4-1, half-time (2-0) against the Haitian women's football team at the end of the first of a series of two international friendly matches.
The match, which was intended to pay tribute to Desiree Scoot (cap), who also started in midfield for the Canucks, was a walkover for the Canadian women's national team, which took less than ten minutes to score two goals against the Grenadières, who had a disastrous start to the match.
Visually at ease, the host team scored its first two goals through Adriana Leon (7th, 9th), who was assisted each time by Janine Beckie.
Unable to respond, the Haitian women's national football team, overwhelmed by events, had to endure the match and content themselves with defending and/or repelling the repeated attacks of the Canadians. Thus, the half ended with the score (2-0) in favor of the Canadian team.
At the restart, it was the Canucks again, determined to suffocate the Grenadières, who scored a third goal through Shelina Zadorski (50th minute) to take a lead on the scoreboard.
The Haitian national team, remembering that it had the best young player in the world on its roster, Melchie Daëlle Dumornay, would wake up tentatively. In an attempt to get back into the game, the captain, in the absence of Nérilia Mondésir and the Grenadières' current top scorer, Batcheba Louis, reduced the score (3-1, 52nd minute) for Haiti.
With better tactical and technical organization, the Haitians, with the introductions of Tabita Joseph, Jasmine Vilgrin, Maudeline Moryl, and Chelsea Domond, were able to create several chances, but without capitalizing on them, causing a bit of panic in the opposing half. Against all odds, Canada, somewhat less brilliant in the second half, delivered the coup de grâce by scoring a fourth goal through Olivia Smith (90th minute, 4-1) to seal a clear and flawless 4-1 victory over Haiti.
It's important to note the outstanding performance of Janine Beckie, who provided four assists. She was the key architect of Canada's victory over Haiti.
The least we can say after this match, lost 1-4 by the Grenadières, was that they clearly weren't there. It seems they might do better on June 3rd in Montreal during the second international friendly between Canada and Haiti.
The starting XI for both countries:
Canada: K. Sheridan (GK).- B.S. Georges, V. Gilles, S. Zadorsky, G. Carle.- Desiree Scoot (Cap).- J. Beckie, J. Fleming, M. Alidou, A. Leon.- Jaydyn Huitema
Haiti: K. Pietrus (GK).- Kethna Louis (Tabita Joseph, 85th), Claire Constant (Jasmine Vilgrin, 85th), Jennyfer Limage, Amandine Pierre-Louis.- Déborah Bien-Aimé, Dayana Pierre-Louis (Maudeline Moryl, 62nd).- Roseline Eloissaint, Melchie Dumornay, Sherly Jeudy (Chelsea Domond, 74th). Batcheba Louis (Cap).
