Sarah Stratagakis Scores in Second Half Stoppage Time as Canada Defeats Argentina 1-0 on Second Match Day of 2021 Shebelieves Cup
Eight-Ranked Canada Outshoots 31st Ranked Argentina 17-7
ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2021) – Canada defeated Argentina 1-0 in the nightcap on the second match day of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup as 73rd-minute substitute midfielder Sarah Stratagakis scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Earlier in the day, the USA defeated Brazil, 2-0.
The 21-year-old Stratagakis was playing in just her third match for Canada and scored her first international goal.
Canada made six changes from the starting lineup that faced the USA on Feb. 18, but one was goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, who played a fantastic match against the Americans after coming on in just the 11th minute for an injured Kailen Sheridan. Sheridan, who plays for Sky Blue FC in the NWSL, was ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to her injury.
Canada had more of the play in the first half, but quality chances were wanting as the teams combined for just nine total shots, which included two shots on goal for Canada and one for Argentina.
The second half was all one-way traffic for Canada, but the packed and organized Argentina defense, which maintained a low block for the entire 45 minutes, held strong until Canada scored a scrappy goal in stoppage time.
A cross was played in from the right side into a packed goal area and Argentina couldn’t clear. Midfielder Jessie Fleming kept the ball alive and Stratagakis then knifed through the middle to knock the ball into the net on the slide from close range to give Canada its first SheBelieves Cup win.
The result sets up Canada (1-1-0 3 points) for a clash with Brazil (1-1-0 3 points) on Feb. 24, the final match day of the competition. The winner of that match – if there is one – must hope for a massive Argentina (0-2-0 0 points) upset over the USA in order to win the tournament. The USA currently tops the standing with six points from two matches while Brazil has three points from its win over Argentina. A win or a tie will clinch the USA its fourth SheBelieves Cup title no matter the result of the Brazil-Canada match, which will take place first.
The SheBelieves Cup concludes on Wednesday, Feb. 24 with Canada facing Brazil (3 p.m. ET on FS1 and the TUDN App, TUDN.tv) followed by the USA vs. Argentina (7 p.m. ET on FS1 and TUDN).
- 2021 SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT -
Match: Argentina Women’s National Team vs. Canada Women’s National Team
Date: February 21, 2021
Competition: 2021 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 1,348 (Limited Capacity)
Kickoff: 6:05 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees, Partly Cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
ARG 0 0 0
CAN 0 1 1
CAN – Sarah Stratagakis (Jessie Fleming) 92nd minute
Lineups:
ARG: 12-Laurina Oliveros; 21-Adriana Sachs, 2-Agustina Barroso (18-Romina Nuñez, 83), 6-Aldana Cometti, 3-Eliana Stabile, 8-Clarisa Huber (14-Miriam Mayorga, 63), 16-Lorena Benitez (20-Daiana Falfan, 57), 5-Vanesa Santana (Capt.) (13-Sophia Braun, 90), 19-Mariana Larroquette (7-Yael Oviedo, 76), 9-Soledad Jaimes, 11-Yamila Rodriguez,
Subs not used: 1-Solana Pereyra, 4-Marina Delgado, 10-Dalila Ippolito, 15-Milagros Menendez, 17-Valentina Camara
Head coach: Carlos Borrello
CAN: 1-Stephanie Labbe; 2-Allysha Chapman (20-Jayde Riviere, 46), 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 3-Jade Rose (10-Sarah Stratagakis, 73), 14-Gabrielle Carle, 13-Sophie Schmidt (Capt.), 21-Jordyn Listro (8-Samantha Chang, 60), 16-Janine Beckie, 19-Adriana Leon (6-Deanne Rose, 58), 17-Jessie Fleming, 15-Nichelle Prince (9-Evelyne Viens, 53)
Subs not used: 7-Julia Grosso, 11-Desiree Scott, 12-Rylee Foster, 22-Lindsay Agnew
Head coach: Bev Priestman
Stats Summary: ARG / CAN
Shots: 7 / 17
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 15 / 10
Offside: 0 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Shelina Zadorsky (caution) 7th minute
ARG – Agustina Barroso (caution) 66
ARG – Yamila Rodriguez (caution) 73
Officials:
Referee: Tori Penso (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jennifer Garner (USA)
4th Official: Katja Koroleva (USA)
