NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 19, 2023) – Canada downed Brazil 2-0 in a hard-fought contest in the second match on the second match day of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup. With the USA defeating Japan, 1-0, in the first match of the day, the USA and Brazil enter the final doubleheader on Feb. 21 in Frisco, Texas with the Americans needing a win or a tie to take the title.
The USA and Brazil meet at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT (TNT, HBO Max, Universo and Peacock) at Toyota Park while Japan and Canada will play the first game at 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET (HBO Max, Universo and Peacock).
In an evenly played match between Canada and Brazil, both teams played physically and aggressively tried to move forward in the attack. In the end, Brazil out-shot Canada 14-10 and put six shots on goal to Canada’s five, but the Canadians were more ruthless inside the penalty box.
In the 12th minute, Canada almost drew first blood when forward Adriana Leon raced into the right side of the penalty box and smashed a shot at the near post, but Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena stood strong and parried it away with her left hand for a corner kick.
Canada broke through in the 31st minute on a thundering header from center back Vanessa Gilles, who got free from her defender and powered home a corner kick cross from Jesse Fleming to score from four yards out. Despite some good looks on goal by both teams the rest of the way, that proved to be the game-winner. It was her third career goal for Canada.
In the 51st minute, Brazil almost scored off a header from a corner kick, but Lauren sent her shot into the arms of Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Seconds later, forward Debinha had a chance inside the box, but also hit her shot right at Sheridan from 18 yards out.
Brazil came close to equalizing in the 55th minute as forward Ludmilla got behind the Canada defense on a semi-breakaway, but under pressure from a defender, she let the ball get away from her just a bit and Sheridan swept it away with her feet.
Canada put the match away with a goal in the 71st minute after a free-kick from the near the left sideline. The ball was kept alive off the heads of two Canadian players and then one Brazilian defender, but that header landed in an inopportune spot for the South Americans and Canada forward Evelyne Viens smashed a volley through a group of Brazilian players and into the net from seven yards out. The ball took a deflection on the way into the goal. The goal was the fourth in her Canada career.
Brazil had two goldens chance to pull a goal back around the 80th minute as Bia Zaneratto sent a header off a free kick on frame from almost point-blank range, but Sheridan stopped it with her legs. On the ensuing corner kick, Gabi Nunes sent a strong header on net, but Sheridan was up to the task again, leaping to tip the ball over the crossbar.
CAN – Vanessa Gilles (Jesse Fleming), 31st minute: Fleming sent a corner kick in from the right side and Gilles marking defender slipped to the ground, leaving her wide open to smash home a header from four years out just under the crossbar. CAN 1, BRA 0
CAN – Evelyne Viens, 71st minute: After a free kick from the left side was served into the penalty box, Christine Sinclair kept the ball alive with a flicked header that sailed to the far post where Shelina Zadorsky headed the ball back into the middle. A Brazilian defender tried to clear with her head, but the ball dropped just outside the six-yard box and Viens smashed it first-time into the net through a pack of players.
Match: Brazil Women’s National Team vs. Canada Women’s National Team
Date: February 19, 2023
Competition: 2023 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: GEODIS Park; Nashville, Tenn.
Attendance: 6,502
Kickoff: 5:35 p.m. local (6:35 p.m. ET)
Weather: 56 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
BRA 0 0 0
CAN 1 1 2
CAN – Vanessa Gilles (Jessie Fleming) 31st minute
CAN – Evelyne Viens 71
Lineups:
BRA: 1-Lorena; 13-Tarciane, 3-Kathellen (4-Rafaelle, 46), 14-Lauren, 6-Tamires (Capt.); 18-Geyse, 17-Ary Borges (8-Ana Vitória, 37), 21-Kerolin (11-Adriana, 58), 20-Nycole (10-Marta, 58); 7-Ludmila (23-Gabi Nunes, 76); 9-Debinha (16-Bia Zaneratto, 58)
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Letícia, 22-Luciana; 2-Bruninha, 5-Tainara, 15-Julia Bianchi 19-Yasmim
Head coach: Pia Sundhage
CAN: 1-Kailen Sheridan; 21-Jade Rose, 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 14-Vanessa Gilles (4-Shelina Zadorsky, 46), 2-Allysha Chapman; 17-Jessie Fleming (Capt.), 7-Julia Grosso (13-Sophie Schmidt, 52), 8-Simi Awujo (12-Christine Sinclair, 46); 10-Ashley Lawrence (15-Evelyne Viens, 62), 19-Adriana Leon (9-Jordyn Huitema, 62), 16-Janine Beckie (20-Cloé Lacasse, 62)
Substitutions Not Used: 18-Sabrina D'Angelo, 22-Lysianne Proulx, 6-Gabby Carle, 11-Clarissa Larisey, 23-Jenna Hellstrom
Head coach: Bev Priestman
Stats Summary: BRA / CAN
Shots: 14 / 10
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 4 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 21 / 9
Offside: 1 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Kadeisha Buchanan (Caution) 42nd minute
BRA – Ana Vitória (Caution) 88
CAN – Christine Sinclair (Caution) 90
Officials:
Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Katy Nesbitt (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
4th Official: Danielle Chesky (USA)
2023 SheBelieves Cup Standings
|
TEAM |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
|
USA |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
+3 |
6 |
|
Canada |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
|
Brazil |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
3 |
|
Japan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
-2 |
0 |