The Olympic soccer champions brought some heat back from Tokyo to Montreal on Tuesday night at Saputo Stadium. The Canadians won 1-0 against New Zealand in the second friendly match of the celebratory tour.
With a feeling of 8 ° C, we were far from the oppressive heat of the Japanese capital last August. Whatever: Adriana Leon kept the momentum going, scoring the only goal of the game in the 16e minute. She scored the last two Canadian goals in the 5-1 victory last Saturday in Ottawa.
For this first game of Canadian players on Quebec soil since the 2015 World Cup, 11,323 fans were gathered. Their energy has been contagious.
“The atmosphere was really very, very good,” said striker Evelyne Viens after the game.
The girls on the bench, after two minutes, we were like, “Yeah, the crowd is there to cheer us on.” It was the fun, the wave, the drums and the screams. We really felt it. It gave us energy.
Evelyne Viens, striker
Viens came into play after half-time, along with Quebec defender Vanessa Gilles. They joined another local full-back, Gabrielle Carle, who was part of the starting lineup.
“It was a game that meant a lot to me,” Carle said in videoconference. It’s my home, home. I think I did a good performance. ”
If the New Zealanders were more in legs than in the previous match, however, they rarely worried the Canadian defense. Stéphanie Labbé must have noticed a shot from outside the box in the 26e minute. It was the best luck of the visitors in this meeting.
“New Zealand played really better”
The maple leaf attacks came in waves after Leon’s goal. This trend was slowed down towards the end of the match, when New Zealand sought an equalizer.
“New Zealand really played better than last game,” Gabrielle Carle said. It was more intense and difficult than the last one. ”
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Canadian coach Bev Priestman agrees.
“It wasn’t a great performance on our part,” she commented. We expected it, with the many changes and the lack of chemistry that came with it. We had good times, but they weren’t supported. ”
All credit goes to New Zealand. They played in a much better organized way.
Bev Priestman, Canadian coach
The Olympic champions were greeted one after the other, medals around their necks, during the pre-match celebrations. Christine Sinclair, Stéphanie Labbé as well as Quebecers Vanessa Gilles, Evelyne Viens and Gabrielle Carle were warmly applauded.
“Phenomenal” supporters
In return, the Canadians greeted their fans as they toured Saputo Stadium after the final whistle.
“We felt the love of the fans,” said Priestman. They were phenomenal tonight. […] It helped us throughout the game. It was not always very smooth, we were sometimes unable to keep the ball. But there was love up there. ”
Evelyne Viens made her professional debut in 2020 in the United States, in the midst of a pandemic. Her parents and family had never had the opportunity to see her play for the pros. They were there Tuesday night.
“I kinda forgot what it was like to play at home, to play in front of my family,” said the Gotham FC forward in the NWSL. To see my brother, my friends, my family… It’s appreciated that they drove on a Tuesday evening. I am very grateful to have had the chance to play in Montreal.
“This is a moment that I will remember all my life. ”