Adriana Leon scores hat trick as Canada blanks Paraguay to remain unbeaten at W Gold Cup

Adriana Leon scored three goals and teenage forward Olivia Smith celebrated her first senior start with a goal to help Canada defeat Paraguay 4-0 on Sunday and remain unbeaten at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Captain Jessie Fleming had a chance to make it 5-0 from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time, after substitute Simi Awujo was brought down, but sent her spot kick off the crossbar.

It was a first-ever senior meeting between 10th-ranked Canada and No. 50 Paraguay. And it proved to be a one-sided affair with Canada outshooting Paraguay 24-2 (12-1 in shots on target).

The South Americans stacked their defence but could only hold Canada off for so long.

"We had to adjust some things tactically," said Canada coach Bev Priestman.

"Paraguay are a good team and we came into this game knowing that and respecting that," she added. "We were working on defending just as much as attacking. But yeah, it was a really difficult [defensive] block to break down."

WATCH l Leon nets hat trick in shutout of Paraguay:

Leon, who had two goals in Canada's 6-0 opening win over No. 104 El Salvador on Thursday, scored in the 25th, 49th and 77th minute to boost her Canada total to 36 in 107 appearances.

Smith had opened her account with a goal off the bench against El Salvador.

The 19-year-old from Whitby, Ont., who plays in Portugal for Sporting CP, was rewarded Sunday with her first start and, after Leon's 25th-minute goal, recorded a highlight-reel strike.

Leon's 25th-minute opener was equally impressive with the Aston Villa forward taking advantage of a skewed attempted clearance that bounced back toward the Paraguay goal. The ball dropped to an unmarked Leon, who neatly volleyed it home for her third goal at the tournament.

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