Canada’s dream of reaching the finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ended with a 1-0 loss to rivals Mexico on Wednesday in Montevideo, Uruguay.
A tame attacking effort by the Canadians resulted in their downfall against a resolute Mexican side that benefited from captain Nicole Pérez’s goal via the penalty spot midway through the first half.
Canadian coach Rhian Wilkinson was asked in the post-match press conference what her team was missing on the day, and she gave a very frank answer.
“Courage. I think they’re very good. They’re a very good team who plays wonderful soccer when they believe in themselves. There were moments where they doubted themselves and it looked like that on the field. I think there was a bit of courage missing,” Wilkinson said.
Here are my three thoughts on Canada’s loss.
Canada caught in possession
Mexico played this semifinal contest to perfection from a tactical point of view, using its pressing style to thwart and frustrate the Canadians for the full duration of the match.
There were times when Canada was successful in playing through the pressure, but even when it did manage to get to the other side it didn’t produce much in the way of attacking play or scoring chances. Indeed, Mexican goalkeeper Jaidy Gutiérrez was a spectator, and was never put under any kind of pressure or called into action. Canada enjoyed 59 per cent possession but was outshot 18-7 overall, and it didn’t register a single shot on target against a Mexican team that was defensively disciplined and well-organized.
Other times when facing the Mexicans’ press, Canada tried in vain to build out from the back instead of taking a more pragmatic approach. This insistence on holding onto the ball even when under pressure cost them dearly, and ultimately it was the difference in the game.
Defender Maya Antoine was caught in possession deep inside her half of the field, and forced to recover after losing the ball before bringing down Mexican forward Alison González from behind inside the box. Pérez stepped up and converted from the penalty spot, sending her attempt past Canadian goalkeeper Anna Karpenko.
No second-half heroics this time
Canada proved to be a second-half team at the World Cup. All six of its goals at this tournament came after the halftime break, including captain Jordyn Huitema’s winner in the 83rd minute against Germany in the semifinals.
However, there would be no second-half heroics this time for the Reds, even after coach Wilkinson made a double-switch in the 46th minute by bringing on forward Kaila Novak and midfielder Wayny Balata in place of Sonia Walk and Teni Akindoju. After the break, Wilkinson also shifted Huitema from the wing to a more central role in hopes she could have a greater and more direct influence.
Canada’s fortunes didn’t change, though, as the Mexicans dug in their heels and crowed the centre of the field, making it difficult for Huitema and her cohorts to operate. While scoring opportunities for the Canadians never materialized and they rarely found their way through Mexico’s tight defensive wall, El Tri effectively hit out on the counter, and twice hit the post with Karpenko beaten.
Plenty of positives going forward
Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for Canada at the World Cup, including reaching the semifinals for the first time in team history.
Jordyn Huitema showed why she’s one of the best players in the world in her age group, scoring three goals (all of them game winners) and giving opposing defenders plenty to think about with her athleticism and physical style of play.
Karpenko appears to be a promising young goalkeeper, as she collected two clean sheets and demonstrated great leadership and command of her penalty area with her poised displays. Even Canadian senior-team goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe took notice, tweeting “Absolutely loving watching [Anna Karpenko] play this tournament. I have no doubts about her future seeing what she’s showing the world now.”
Credit must also be given to Wilkinson, who only recently took over as coach of the U-17 team after Bev Priestman left the program in August. A former national team defender who helped Canada win two Olympic bronze medals, Wilkinson immediately earned the trust of her players by showing faith in them and setting them up for success with her tactical approach.
NOTES: In Wednesday’s other semifinal, Spain beat New Zealand 2-0 to advance to the final. Canada will meet the Kiwis in the third-place match, which is scheduled for Saturday right before the Spain-Mexico final… Canada is one of six nations to have competed at all five previous U-17 World Cups, reaching the quarter-finals in 2008, 2012 and 2014… Spain lost in the final four years ago, and finished third in 2010 and 2016.
[relatedlinks]