LAGOS, Portugal — Christine Sinclair scored twice and helped set up another to help Canada to a 3-0 win over South Korea at the Algarve Cup soccer tournament Monday.
The goals raised Sinclair’s career tally to 172, just 12 behind retired American Abby Wambach’s international record of 184 goals.
Canada, ranked fifth in the world, will play No. 9 Japan for fifth place at the 12-team tournament Wednesday.
No. 10 Sweden, the Olympic silver medallist who defeated Rio bronze medallist Canada 3-1 en route to finishing atop Group B, will face the seventh-ranked Netherlands in the championship game while No. 4 Australia takes on No. 38 Portugal for third place.
Portugal (2-0-1) finished as the top second-place team while Canada (2-1-0) was the second-best runner-up, which dropped the Canadian women into the fifth-place playoff.
Canada was runner-up in 2017 and won the tournament in 2016.
Sinclair opened the scoring in the 24th minute Monday, banging home a rebound from her own penalty kick after fullback Allysha Chapman was taken down in the box.
Jessie Fleming, a 19-year-old midfielder earning her 50th cap, made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute with a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty box from a Sinclair setup. It was her fifth goal for Canada.
The 34-year-old captain from Burnaby, B.C., making her 265th appearance for Canada, then padded the lead in the 79th minute by tapping the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.
Sinclair also scored in Canada’s 1-0 win over No. 25 Russia earlier at the tournament.
"Sinclair has played back-to-back 90-minute games and she’s in incredible physical condition," said Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller. "It’s always a pleasure working with someone like her, a world-class talent, and I’m looking forward to working with her as we move towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup."
Monday’s game at the Estadio Municipal de Lagos marked the first cap and start for forward Jenna Hellstrom. Kailen Sheridan started in goal for Canada.
The Canadian women improved to 7-1-0 against Korea, ranked 14th in the world.
"Tonight we demonstrated the kind of intensity and level of play we expect of ourselves, so this was a better match, but we were building towards it and I think it shows that this team continues to be a real force," said Heiner-Moller.
"This tournament is about getting ready for the CONCACAF women’s championships later this year, to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. We’ve had the opportunity to work on some things that are really going to benefit us moving through this year."
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