Canada turns on offence late en route to win over Trinidad and Tobago

GUADALUPE, Mexico — A slow start turned into a goal rush Tuesday night as Canada blanked Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 to open play at the CONCACAF W Championship.

Canada, the defending Olympic champion, is ranked sixth in the world compared to No. 76 for Trinidad.

Despite dominating play, Canada held a slim 1-0 lead two-thirds of the way through the match on captain Christine Sinclair's 190th international goal. Determined Trinidad defending and some errant finishing made for Canadian frustration.

But five goals in the final 23 minutes — with four in the last 11 minutes — changed the storyline completely.

Julia Grosso struck twice to open her senior scoring account with singles from Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie and Jordyn Huitema.

The eight-team tournament, which runs through July 18, serves as the qualifier in North and Central America and the Caribbean for both the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Previously World Cup and Olympic qualifying were separate in the region.

Canada, whose lack of scoring has been an issue of late, outshot Trinidad 27-1 (9-1 in shots on target) and had 61 per cent possession, according to CONCACAF.

"The narrative about lack of goals, I think that plays into players getting tense," said Canada coach Bev Priestman. "I was just pleased to put that to bed now and just focus on the process."

Canada had scored just six goals in its previous six matches this year while going 2-1-3.

"I'm really pleased with six goals and a clean sheet. It's nothing to be scoffed at," Priestman added. "And it wasn't perfect. I was frustrated at times. The players were (frustrated). But that will come and the confidence will come. And we've just got to keep rolling."

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