Holland v Canada

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Holland v Canada

Holland Edge Canada In Enthralling Encounter

by Jeremy Ruane

Holland edged Canada 2-1 in an enthralling FIFA Women's World Cup Finals encounter on June 20, the 19,277 fans at Reims' Stade Auguste Delaune witnessing a rip-roaring duel between two teams who went all out to claim top place in the group, both already having booked their places in the last sixteen.

Any late arrivals missed the early drama, for Canada were awarded a penalty by French referee Stephanie Frappart just 65 seconds into the contest, after Desiree Van Lunteren tripped Janine Beckie on the edge of the area after giving the Canadian a sniff by erring.

The Video Assistant Referee checked the footage, and prompted referee Frappart to have a look, the outcome of their consultation seeing the penalty decision changed to a free-kick, the foul having occurred outside the area, with Beckie having landed inside.

Some three minutes after the original call, Christine Sinclair lined up the free-kick and slammed it into the defensive wall, the first threat on goal in a game which saw the Dutch dominate possession early, one brilliant piece of skill by Lieke Martens seeing her retain possession despite being surrounded by four opponents, whom she outfoxed with a slick change of direction and pass to continue a twelfth minute attack.

Canada responded by putting the ball in the net in the 22nd minute, youngster Jordyn Huitema's effort being ruled out by the offside flag. The eighteen-year-old then fired a shot narrowly past the far post six minutes later as the Canadians enjoyed a spell on top of proceedings.

Back came the Dutch, Shanice Van de Sanden - a fine performance! - seeing her acute-angled cross tipped onto the crossbar by Stephanie Labbe, who was beaten all ends up seconds later by Vivianne Miedema after the striker turned Shelina Zadorsky and unleashed a shot across the 'keeper, only to see the ball cannon to safety off the post.

Holland continued to press for the opening goal, with Miedema and Van de Sanden teaming up to present Danielle Van de Donk with the chance to execute a 34th minute bicycle kick which flashed over the bar.

There was no let-up from "Clockwork Orange", with Sherida Spitse picking out Van de Sanden three minutes later. She turned her marker then unleashed a dipping twenty-five yarder which landed on the roof of Labbe's net.

Referee Frappart then played the advantage, as Holland retained possession after Miedema was tackled outside the area by Labbe, before Kadeisha Buchanan finished the job by scything the striker down from behind, for which she rightly received a yellow card when there was next a break in play.

Two minutes before the interval, Beckie stung the gloves of Sari Van Veenendaal after Sinclair latched onto a loose ball and took on the Dutch defence, the last act of note in a highly entertaining first half, the tone of which continued in the second spell, but with the added benefit of some goals to savour.

The first of them materialised in the 54th minute. Spitse delivered a free-kick from the left which picked out defender Anouk Dekker, who got in

front of Buchanan to head the ball across Labbe and in by the far post.

Canada wasted little time in looking to redress the balance, and after Sinclair had chipped the ball over the bar on receipt of a Jessie Fleming pass, she joined Marta in that exclusive club of players - now two-strong - who have scored in five FIFA Women's World Cup Finals.

Sinclair started the move on the hour, laying the ball off to Beckie, who picked out Huitema with her pass. The youngest player in Canada's squad then steered the sphere into the stride of Ashley Lawrence, ranging up on the right.

She delivered an absolute gem of a cross through the corridor of uncertainty, a delivery which saw both Van Veenendaal and the retreating Van Lunteren hesitate. Not Sinclair, however. She timed her run to the far post to perfection and slammed the ball home into the roof of the net from the most acute of angles - a real striker's goal, and her 182nd in Canadian colours.

Sinclair's withdrawal from the fray ten minutes later raised a few eyebrows, but her replacement, Adriana Leon, was eager to make an impact, and cut in off the left in the 71st minute before feeding Fleming and carrying on her run.

The midfielder held onto the ball before finding her chip to perfection, inviting Leon to meet the ball with a volley. She just failed to connect cleanly, guiding the ball past the far post.

Holland came roaring back, and regained the lead fifteen minutes from time. Substitute Lineth Beerensteyn cut in off the left past three opponents before playing the ball across to Miedema. She brought Van de Sanden into play, but the winger allowed the ball to roll on into the stride of Van Lunteren, steaming up to join the attack.

Her cross threaded the corridor of uncertainty perfectly, fizzing just beyond the fingertips of the diving figure of Labbe but right into the stride of Beerensteyn, who, from three yards, couldn't miss - 2-1.

Buchanan's timely tackle prevented Miedema from making it 3-1 five minutes later, to which Canada responded through Leon, who fired in an 83rd minute cross which Beckie just couldn't climb high enough to head on target.

The Canadians kept on coming in their pursuit of a second equaliser, and in stoppage time Fleming sent substitute Jayde Riviere down the right. Over came the cross, but Dekker headed clear to ensure Holland would finish as group winners thanks to this 2-1 victory over Canada, a fine duel between two teams who are well capable of meeting each other again later in the competition.

Holland: Van Veenendaal; Van Lunteren, Dekker (booked, 23), Bloodworth, Van Dongen; Spitse (Roord, 70 (booked, 90), Van de Donk (Jansen, 87), Groenen; Van de Sanden, Miedema, Martens (Beerensteyn, 70)

Canada: Labbe; Lawrence, Buchanan (booked, 39), Zadorsky, Chapman (Riviere, 69); Fleming, Scott (Quinn, 79 (booked, 80)), Schmidt; Huitema, Sinclair (Leon, 69), Beckie

Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France)

Group Matches