EDMONTON – Canada settled for a 0-0 draw with New Zealand at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, unable to turn its edge in possession and scoring chances into maximum points.
The game had plenty of drama with a weather delay, Canadian goal called back and both sides hitting the crossbar, with the woodwork denying a New Zealand penalty kick.
Inability to finish has been an issue for Canada, which needed a stoppage-time penalty kick from captain Christine Sinclair to dispatch China 1-0 in the tournament opener.
But this time there was no last-minute happy ending for the home team although Sinclair had several chances to end the deadlock, including an 85th-minute shot that went wide.
Still the single point all but assures Canada (1-0-1) of advancing to the second round, but the order of finish in Group A will go down to the wire.
The point was only the second at the World Cup for New Zealand. The first came four years ago when John Herdman, now Canada’s coach, was at the Kiwi helm.
Comments