Canada shuts out Costa Rica to remain excellent at W Gold Cup, clinch high seed for quarterfinals

Defender Shelina Zadorsky scored twice from set items to assist Canada clean Costa Rica 3-0 on Wednesday and stay excellent on the CONCACAF W Gold Cup with three wins and the highest seeding heading into the weekend quarterfinals.

Jordyn Huitema additionally scored for Canada, which led 2-0 after having 73 per cent possession within the first half at Houston’s Shell Power Stadium.

The three objectives all got here from headers with Tenth-ranked Canada making the most of its top benefit over the Forty third-ranked Central People. The Canadians might have added to their whole however the ending wasn’t medical at instances or they tried for one go too many.

It was a milestone fiftieth sport in cost for Bev Priestman, who improved to 31-9-10 on the Canadian helm since being named coach in October 2020.

The Canadians now fly to Los Angeles for the quarterfinals at BMO Stadium, residence to the NWSL’s Angel Metropolis FC and MLS’s Los Angeles FC.

The three group winners, three runners-up and two greatest third-place finishers qualify for the knockout stage, with the groups then redrawn in accordance with their file. So it is No. 1 versus No. 8, No. 2 versus No. 7, No. 3 versus No. 6 and No. 4 versus No. 5.

The No. 8 staff was 103rd-ranked Puerto Rico, pending the results of the Paraguay-El Salvador Group C sport later Wednesday. Canada performs Saturday.

The one different staff on the 12-country match with three wins is No. 11 Brazil, which completed atop Group B at 3-0-0 with a plus-seven objective distinction after defeating No. 55 Panama 5-0 Tuesday night time in San Diego.

Canada, which has but to concede on the match, improved its objective distinction to plus-13.

No. 35 Mexico (2-0-1) topped Group A, forward of the second-ranked People (2-1-0) after a 2-0 upset win Monday.

Ought to Canada advance to the semifinal it might face the winner of the No. 4 versus No. 5 sport, which might imply a date with the second-ranked People.

Canada hogged the ball from the get-go and went forward within the eleventh minute when Jessie Fleming’s well-flighted ball into the field discovered the five-foot-11 Huitema, whose downward header beat a diving goalkeeper Daniela Solera for her twentieth objective.

Adriana Leon, who has 5 objectives on the match, turned supplier within the twenty seventh minute by floating a nook to the far put up that Zadorsky headed residence with the Costa Rica defence preoccupied by the close by Huitema’s aerial risk.

The five-foot-eight West Ham defender made its six objectives in 97 Canada appearances within the 57th minute when she headed residence substitute Olivia Smith’s nook.

Priestman made 5 adjustments to her beginning lineup with Zadorsky, Huitema, Gabby Carle, Simi Awujo and Clarissa Larisey slotting in.

Captain Rocky Rodriguez, who performs for the NWSL’s Angel Metropolis FC, had Costa Rica’s greatest likelihood when her swerving shot from exterior the penalty field hit the crossbar within the 70h minute.

Canada earlier dispatched No. 104 El Salvador 6-0 and No. 50 Paraguay 4-0. Costa Rica misplaced 1-0 to Paraguay earlier than defeating El Salvador 2-0.

The Canadian girls had gained all 15 earlier conferences with Costa Rica, with a mixed 48-6 edge in objectives.

After Los Angeles, the match shifts to San Diego for semifinals and ultimate at Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10, respectively.