Canada beat Argentina 2-1 2008 Olympics women's Soccer
Canada’s debut in 2008 Olympics women’s soccer will go down as a success.
In their first appearance ever, Canada beat Argentina 2-1 here Wednesday evening in the first competitive event of the Beijing Games.
Goals by Candace Chapman in the 27th minute and Kara Lang in the 71st gave Canada a comfortable margin and allowed the Canadians to withstand an 85th minute counter by Argentina’s Ludmila Manicler before about 20,000 fans in the 60,000-seat Tianjin 2008 Olympics Stadium. Canada controlled the play for almost the entire game.
The game was played in stifling heat, with temperatures of about 35C at kickoff; strength-sapping humidity and under a cloud of grey, polluted, stagnant air that’s been the trademark of the run-up to the Games.
Canada had a huge size advantage over Argentina and used it often. The backline of Chapman, Emily Zurrer, Martine Franko and Wilkinson simply overpowered the Argentina attack and Canada won nearly every ball in the air up front.
Canada faces China here on Saturday and completes its first-round on Tuesday in Beijing against Sweden.
The victory did not come without a cost, though; Melissa Tancredi, a key forward and Canada’s most physical presence on the front line, left after just 41 minutes with an apparent left ankle injury. She was knocked down in the penalty area in front of the Argentina goal in about the 19th minute, left the pitch for a few minutes to have the ankle treated and returned. But the injury became too much to handle about 10 minutes later and she left the game for good.
(BEIJING, August 6) --Canada Women's Soccer team began its Group E 2008 Olympics campaign with a 2-1 victory over Argentina at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals in each half, one from defender Candace Chapman and one from striker Kara Lang, were enough for Canada to beat a tired-looking Argentina side. Ludmilla Manicler's late goal was little more than a consolation goal.
On a hot and humid afternoon, the game started slowly but was brightened by a clever turn and shot on the edge of the penalty area from Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, which was finger-tipped around the left-hand post by Argentina's goalkeeper Vanine Correa.
From the resulting corner, Canada took the lead in the 27th minute when a weakly headed clearance rolled into Chapman's path. Her powerful, low shot sliced through a crowded area into the bottom right corner of Correa's goal.
The goal weakened Argentine spirits and Canada began to dominate. A close-range shot by Sinclair was saved and forward Lang had the ball in the net, only to find the offside flag raised.
Canada continued to dominate in the second half and added a second goal in the 72nd minute when Lang headed in a free kick.
Against the run of play, Argentina pulled a goal back in the 85th minute when Mariela Coronel was able to pull the ball back from near the goal line for Manicler to smash home a goal.
The late goal made no difference and Canada's Martina Franko even missed a golden chance to make it 3-1 when she hit the crossbar from close range.
The Canadians will be satisfied with the game and look forward to their next match against China in Tianjin on August 9.
Argentina must regroup in preparation for its battle against Sweden, also on Saturday at the same venue.