HOUSTON – Second-half goals by Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath lifted the U.S. to a 2-0 win Sunday over Canada in the final of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The top-ranked Americans were full value for the victory despite a game effort from 11th-ranked Canada.
Canadian coach John Herdman said prior to the game he would “be trying something a little bit different.” And he was true to his word when the starting lineup came out.
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Captain Christine Sinclair and fellow veterans Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt and goalkeeper Erin McLeod dropped out of the starting 11. The foursome have 666 caps and 194 goals – not to mention a few miles – between them. Herdman also moved 16-year-old Deanne Rose to the bench as he continued his roster rotation.
The Americans, who have bossed the confederation that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean for years, fielded an unchanged lineup.
After a scoreless first half, the U.S. went ahead in the 53rd. Captain Becky Sauerbrunn, celebrating her 100th cap by carving open the Canadian defence with her accurate passing, sent a ball into the box that goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe came out for but was beaten by Horan, who headed it in. Defender Kadeisha Buchanan slipped on the play.
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