VANCOUVER – After conceding just one goal in their last four matches, Canada gave up two goals in three minutes to give England a 2-1 win in their quarter-final match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
England’s Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze scored early to stun the more than 54,000 fans who packed BC Place on a sweltering Saturday afternoon.
Canadian captain Christine Sinclair had her best game of the tournament, scoring late in the first half to bring Canada to within a goal but it wasn’t enough to beat an English side ranked sixth in the world.
“This one stings,” said Sinclair. “But in the grand scheme of things, this tournament was a huge success.”
As the final whistle blew, English players rushed the field to celebrate. Canadians dropped to their knees in disappointment. Teenage defender Kadeisha Buchanan had to be consoled by teammates.
“I’m proud of my girls. I think they give you everything,” said head coach John Herdman. “It just wasn’t good enough tonight and the dream is over.”
Herdman went on to say he was “gutted for all of Canada.”
Taylor scored at the 11-minute mark, taking advantage of a Lauren Sesselmann blunder to put the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Canada wobbled on defence again when Bronze beat the much smaller Allysha Chapman to a free kick and headed the ball in off the crossbar.
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Down two goals, Canada opened up offensively with Melissa Tancredi heading a cross over the English net at the 18-minute mark.
Early in the game, Tancredi had a golden opportunity thanks to an impressive bit of skill from Sinclair, who weaved through two defenders to cross the ball into the box, but Tancredi failed to convert.
Late in the first half, Sinclair scored her second of the tournament, pouncing on a rebound from goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
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Bardsley left the game in the second half with apparent eye injury, replaced by reserve netminder Siobhan Chamberlain. Head coach Mark Sampson said after the match that Bardsley was suffering from an allergic reaction that affected her eyes.
Sinclair continued to look dangerous in the second half, stealing the ball from an English defender to set up a shot attempt by Tancredi and later narrowly missing on a free kick.
Veteran Diana Matheson replaced Rhian Wilkinson at the 62-minute mark. Nine minutes later, head coach John Herdman swapped Adriana Leon in for Tancredi.
Leon had an impact, storming the penalty box from the left side and forcing England to concede a corner kick. Minutes later, she set up shot by Sophie Schmidt that missed the target with less than 10 minutes remaining.
England defender Steph Houghton was named Player of the Match.
The Lionesses will face defending champions Japan in the semifinals on July 1 in Edmonton. The other semifinal, set for Tuesday in Montreal, sees No. 1 Germany versus the second-ranked Americans.
-with files from Canadian Press
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