Chile takes down Canada 2-0 in front of sold out Santiago crowd
In an electrifying showdown at the 2023 Pan American Games, the Women’s National Team faced off against a spirited Chilean side in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd in Santiago. The match had all the intensity and drama one could hope for in a critical group stage tilt. The horns, the chants, the cheering, the flag waving; the crowd noise was deafening at field-level.
The pressure cooker atmosphere in the first half saw Chile controlling much of the attacking pressure. Canada pushed the pace early, earning two penalty corners in the opening minutes, though they were unable to convert. The Canadian defense, anchored by the stellar Rowan Harris in goal and the excellent running of Madi Thompson, held firm against Chile’s assault. Harris made clutch saves to keep the Canadians in the game, thwarting numerous Chilean chances, including two crucial penalty corners. Harris said that they will use this performance to learn and improve for the coming matches.
“When they’re pressing hard, we have to think how can we be brave in those moments, and continue to implement our game plan? We did well in our circle defense, we did well to hold them off. Now it’s about how we go forward and how we generate threat,” Harris said. She added that these special moments in big games is why they do this.
Despite their defensive efforts, the dam eventually broke at the end of the third quarter when Chile capitalized on two penalty corners within a minute, scoring both to secure a 2-0 lead. Canada continued to fight, pushing forward in the third quarter. Sam McCrory earned a fourth-quarter penalty corner, their first since the start of the game. Canada was once again, turned away. McCrory said that despite the result, she’s proud of the team’s effort in tonight’s matchup. She added that playing in front of a loud home crowd was an unforgettable experience.
“Of course we’re disappointed in the result, but all-in-all, I’m so proud of the whole team and I think we put up a good fight,” she said. “Playing in this environment. It’s about embracing it all and enjoying the moment.”
Calgary’s Mel Scholz echoed McCrory’s sentiments and said that it was special playing in front of such a spirited crowd. “There’s so much passion in Chile. There’s a lot of pressure, but pressure is a privilege. So we were ready to take it on and enjoy having these fans watching us. It was an honour,” Scholz said.
In the end, it was a gritty defensive effort from Canada, with most of the game’s chances kept to the perimetre, but Chile’s penalty corner execution at the end of the third quarter made the difference. As a result, Chile emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
Canada now faces Mexico in their final group stage match with their eyes set on advancing to the knockout stage, where they will likely encounter the tournament favourites, Argentina. Despite the challenging loss, the Canadian team showcased their resilience and defensive prowess. They will take today’s learnings and look forward to the rest of the tournament.
Canada takes on Chile on Saturday night at the 2023 Pan American Games. Photos/Yan Huckendubler
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