With head coach John Herdman looking to his team's long-serving stalwarts for inspiration ahead of the London Olympics, it was fitting that Christine Sinclair and Diana Matheson would be the ones to find the net in Saturday's warmup victory over New Zealand.
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After a not-especially-eventful opening half hour, Matheson ignited her team with a marvelous goal, sliding between two defenders -- adding a nutmeg along the way -- and coolly chipping the Kiwi 'keeper.
The goal, as you'd expect, gave Canada a big confidence boost and led to plenty of forward momentum, nearly rewarded on the stroke of halftime as a shot rang off the New Zealand crossbar following a scramble in the penalty area.
Shortly after the break, captain Sinclair did what she does. Taking a well-played through ball from Sophie Schmidt, she accelerated, took a look at the hillside scenery in Switzerland, sent a few BBMs to her friends and read half of this month's edition of The Economist before ho-hummingly slotting it home with her left foot. Number 16 on the year, 136 on the international career. She do what she do.
The starting eleven appeared to be a first-choice lineup, with Karina LeBlanc in goal, Lauren Sesselmann, Candace Chapman, Carmelina Moscato and Rhian Wilkinson at the back, Matheson, Schmidt, Kaylyn Kyle and Desiree Scott in the midfield and Sinclair pairing with Melissa Tancredi up top.
But earlier this week, Herdman said that his team has "tried to dispel the myth that the most important thing in football is the starting 11," indicating how important squad depth -- and the contributions of substitutes -- can be. True to his word, he also gave playing time on the day to Robyn Gayle, Kelly Parker, Chelsea Stewart, Jonelle Filigno, Brittany Timko and Christina Julien (who was left off the Olympic roster, but remains on the "taxi squad").
The game got understandably disjointed with so many Canadians coming and going, but Big Red remained organized enough to hold off the occasional attack from New Zealand -- and even threw in some good ol' crunchy tackles along the way -- and cruise to the final whistle.
While the win for Canada (#7 in the world) over New Zealand (#23) was mostly comfortable, their final Olympic preparation match will provide a sterner test: The ladies in red take on the #5-ranked Brazilians on Tuesday. It'll be Herdman's last chance to see what his squad has, ahead of the big show.
Canada opens Olympic group-stage play against Japan (#3 in the world) on July 25.
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