Where was this team at the World Cup? This team so creative, so dominant? Because this team has just qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games. Brilliantly.
The Canadians won the second game of a home-and-away series against the Jamaicans on Tuesday evening, by a score of 2-1 (4-1 on total goals). This series made it possible to determine which of the two teams would have the chance to go to Paris next summer.
This qualification, obtained in front of a record crowd of 29,212 spectators at BMO Field, means that Bev Priestman and her troupe will have the chance to defend their gold medal, obtained in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.
After a disappointing elimination in the group stage of the World Cup this summer, the maple leaf quickly silenced doubts. Its representatives offered two solid performances, in Kingston on Friday (2-0), then in Toronto on Tuesday.
With a gap of two goals scored away from home to overcome, the workload was titanic for the Jamaicans on Tuesday. And yet, they were the ones who fired first. A superb strike on a free kick in the axis, from the legendary Drew Spence in the 33e minute.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canada’s Nichelle Prince runs towards the ball as Jamaica’s Allyson Swaby defends during the first half.
But the Canadians responded quickly. As much with great opportunities as with an equalizing goal. At the 39eCloé Lacasse confirmed her good performance during these two matches by making it 1-1 with a nice redirection of the header from a corner, in the 39the.
Jordyn Huitema destroyed what remained of Jamaica’s hopes a few minutes after coming on in the 50the. The ball centered by Ashley Lawrence on the right – a constant threat on that side of the pitch – found the head of the number 9, who redirected the leather into the bottom left corner of the net.
It wasn’t a goal, but still: we wouldn’t be surprised if seismologists recorded a tremor in Toronto when Christine Sinclair, who entered the game at 59e, came in front of Rebecca Spencer’s cage three minutes later, dangerous with the ball again and again. BMO Field was ready to explode, had it not been for Spencer’s parade. At 40, it was potentially her last appearance as a Canada player.
The scene of this match was reminiscent of the last great moment that Canadian soccer experienced on its land. We are talking here about the men’s qualification for the World Cup in Qatar, in front of this same BMO Field full to capacity and a victorious Canada against… Jamaica, in March 2022.