Falcons & Canada Settle For Draw In Friendly
Super Falcons And Canada Settle For A Goalless Draw In World Cup Warm-Up
By SL10 - May 26, 2015 10:21 AM
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The women's senior national sides of Nigeria and Canada played out a 0-0 draw yesterday in a friendly behind closed doors at Downsview Park.
The match gave Super Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon, a chance to perfect strategies ahead of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.
Okon named a familiar starting XI with the reigning African Women's Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, leading the attack in a 4-3-3 system.
Mercurial skipper of the side, Evelyn Nwabuoku, gave a good account of herself, while the back-four was rock solid.
It was Nigeria who dominated the early exchanges as a dipping 40-yard bullet cannoned off the crossbar as Karina LeBlanc was left stranded in goal.
Attacking midfielder Sophie Schmidt was the live wire for the home team. She took the game to the Africans with her direct approach and innovation. She whipped in a free kick and it struck the crossbar, while a low shot following a driving run into the 18-yard box hit the outside of the left post early in the second half.
Adriana Leon nearly directed a glancing header into the bottom left corner late in the game but fellow striker Christine Sinclair couldn’t capitalize on a mistake by Super Falcons goalkeeper.
With the game slowing down both sides occasionally pushed for the breakthrough but were left to share the spoils of the game.
After a first half that suggested goals could be forthcoming, the predictable flurry of substitutions helped lessen the game as a spectacle to the extent that it fizzled out.
Canada's central defender, Kadeisha Buchanan, who had a great game, said that the reigning African Women's Champions are the most physical side she has ever faced.
Super Falcons will be hoping to qualify from a World Cup group that comprises of USA, Sweden and Australia.
Meanwhile, the 23 players expected to make Nigeria proud at the Mundial (World Cup) will be listed today.
