skip navigation

Canada in strong position at Uruguay World Cup 2018

By Staff, 11/17/18, 2:30PM EST

Share

Will play Spain in their final group stage game on Wednesday at noon

Play. Inspire. Unite. 

Canada Soccer’s Women’s U-17 team remain undefeated after two matches at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018. Canada defeated Korea Republic 2:0 in their second group stage match at Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo to move into first place in Group D with Spain and Colombia playing later today.

“We played a very strong South Korean team and I think we saw that in the first 45 minutes. They definitely were pinning us back in our half in the first half,” said Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson. “This is a team I’m so proud to be the coach of, obviously there was a red card but they also turned the game around and showed who they really were; resilient. Fantastic team performance today.”
 
Jordyn Huitema’s 59’ minute goal put Canada ahead 1:0. After a corner, Huitema’s volley of the deflected ball arced over the head of Korean GK Jiyeon Kang. However, Huitema saw a red card less than 10 minutes later after a mid-air challenge and Canada were down to 10 players. Canada stepped up and controlled much of the play despite being down a player.
 
Lara Kazandjian got Canada’s insurance goal in the 74’ when her 20 yard blast after some high Canadian pressure won the ball also went over the head of Kang.
 
“It’s always an honour to represent Canada,” said Kazandjian, who was named player of the match. “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did today without the team’s belief and they were really strong physically and emotionally.” 
 
Sitting atop Group D after today’s win, Canada is in a strong position to advance out of the group stage and into the Quarter-finals set for November 24th or 25th.   
 
Canada’s third and final group stage match is against Spain on TSN5 and RDS2 Wednesday, 21 November at 14:00 local (12:00 ET/09:00 PT) at Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo.
 
Canada’s second FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 match starting XI featured Anna Karpenko in net, Léonie Portelance at left-back, Maya Antoine and Jade Rose at centre-back, and Jayde Riviere at right-back. Lara Kazandjian, Sonia Walk, and Caitlin Shaw made up the midfield.  Kaila Novak, Captain Jordyn Huitema and Serita Thurton formed the frontline.
 
In the second half Wilkinson replaced Walk with Wayny Balata and Thurton for Andersen Williams (46’), and Kazandjian with Jessica De Filippo (83’).