Group A continued its trend of low scoring, as the host nation Canada played out a goalless draw against New Zealand in Edmonton. The four games so far played by the teams of Group A have produced just three goals.
The game began with heavy rain and lightning which forced a 35 minute suspension in play, just four minutes into the contest. When play resumed, there were near misses at both ends but few clear cut opportunities in the first half hour of play.
Then, just after the 30 minute mark, New Zealand were awarded a penalty after Hannah Wilkinson was brought down in the box. The Black Ferns’ all-time top scorer Amber Hearn strode forward to take the spot kick but smacked her effort off the crossbar and Canada were able to scramble the ball clear.
On the stroke of half time, this year’s World Cup hosts had the ball in the back of the net, but Melissa Tancredi’s effort was correctly ruled out for offside. So it was, the two teams headed in to the break all square.
In the second half Canada twice hit the woodwork in search of their second victory of the tournament, firstly through star striker Christine Sinclair, whose brilliantly opportunistic volley was well tipped onto the bar by Kiwi goalie Erin Naylor, before Sophie Schmidt’s over-hit cross, direct from a free kick, hit the crossbar and flew away to safety.
With time running out, Tancredi had a one-on-one opportunity with Naylor but hit a tame shot straight at the New Zealand number one, who was a such a vital part of the Kiwi’s efforts for a first World Cup point that she was given the Player of the Match award.
As the clock ticked down, neither side could produce that vital piece of magic this fixture so desperately needed leaving the teams to share the spoils with one group game remaining.
This result, along with a win for China in the night’s other Group A game, has blown the group wide open, with all four teams still having a real chance of making the knock out stages. Only New Zealand now cannot win the group outright but thanks to their point against Canada, they can still qualify in second place.
