First crossover match with Uruguay ends 1-1 (3-0) in nail-biting fashion
Just nine minutes into the match, Sara McManus struck the ball deep into the penalty circle and was met by Elise Wong’s stick, knocking it past the Uruguayan goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead. However, the celebration wouldn’t last long as Uruguay went on to equalize off a penalty corner. It was one of nine corners that Canada would have to defend throughout a game that ended in a nail-biting fashion.
Uruguay came into the crossover match as the third-placed team in Pool B. Every match from here on out is do or die: a goalless second half meant that the tournament would go to its first shootout to determine which side would face Argentina, currently ranked third in the world, in the semifinals.
As Rowan Harris took the net, bracing for the first shot, many thoughts were racing through her head. She and the Canadian defence had just cleared four consecutive penalty corners in the last four minutes of the game. Despite the pressure around, Harris kept her calm and thought back to the team’s practices.
“We practice shootouts quite a bit,” she said. “And so it was just the same: trying to stay on my feet, keep moving, keep the player in front of me. It’s the same thing as practice and the same as any other major breakout game.”
Amanda Woodcroft walked up to the plate first and Canada was immediately awarded a penalty stroke after a foul by the Uruguayan keeper, which McManus easily converted. Uruguay’s second attempt was blocked by Harris. Goal from Maddie Secco. Another save by Harris. When Natalie Sourisseau took her position, all Canada had to do was score and they were through. Sourisseau almost made it look too easy as her shot found the right side of the net — giving Canada the 3-0 SO win.
Canada celebrates as they win 3-0 in shootouts. Photos/Oscar Muñoz Badilla
As Harris ran to celebrate with the rest of the team, she praised the group’s composure against a side that was expected to challenge on the road to World Cup qualification.
“We knew that Uruguay was going to be tough and that anything could happen,” Harris said. We were expecting a really hard battle and it was unfortunate that they scored a goal so quickly, but my defence really pulled through at the end of the game and then our shooters were able to finish [during the shootout], which was exactly what we wanted.”
Karli Johansen, who stood in that strong defensive line as Canada ran down the clock, recorded her 150th international appearance for the Wolf Pack today. Since making her senior debut in 2013, Johansen has been a constant on the squad and is grateful to be in Chile after a break in competition due to COVID-19.
“It’s so great to be here and I’m really happy we made it down,” Johansen said. “After the pandemic and the last couple years, I’m just happy to play [with] the team that we have here…More than the milestone, the focus is on each game we play together. It’s a special group.”
When looking to the next round with Argentina, Johansen gives credit to Uruguay for exposing the team’s weaknesses, knowing they’re up for the task when Thursday comes around.
Johansen said, “I’m really looking forward to playing Argentina. It’s why we play — to compete against the best countries here. The battle today prepared us for that. If it had been easy then I don’t know if we would be as well prepared. We were shown where our soft spots are today so now we can work on those and just play our game moving forward.”
Tune in live on Canal CDO as Canada takes on the semifinals on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 2:00pm ET / 11:00am PT.
Karli Johansen records her 150th senior international appearance against Uruguay. Photo/Oscar Muñoz Badilla
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