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Fresh off a scoreless draw with Nigeria, Canada
put themselves ahead in the match when Leon found the back of
the net in the 53rd minute as her side increasingly exerted
their dominance over a plucky Irish outfit.
"I think the character, the quality and the experience that came
about in the second half, that's the type of performance that we
need moving forward," Canada coach Bev Priestman told a press
conference.
Canada face Australia on Monday where both teams will be aiming
to finish top of Group B. Ireland, however, cannot reach the
knockout stage having also lost to co-hosts Australia and will
head home after playing Nigeria in Brisbane.
In an exciting first half that had attacking play at both ends,
Ireland captain Katie McCabe opened the scoring with a fourth
minute corner that curled through the air and into the net,
giving the girls in green their first-ever World Cup goal.
Canada worked diligently but failed to convert their first
genuine chance in the 30th minute when Vanessa Gilles put too
much on a chip within the six-yard box.
Some luck fell the way of the Olympic champions, though, when
they equalised on the cusp of halftime, a powerful cross from
midfielder Julia Grosso deflecting off Ireland's Megan Connolly
for an own goal in driving rain.
The second half grew into an arm-wrestle, but McCabe battled
hard and created two opportunities late in the game which missed
the target.
"I'm obviously very, very disappointed that we couldn't get back
into the game... but I'm so proud of what we showed," Ireland
coach Vera Pauw told reporters.
Brought on after the break, 40-year-old Christine Sinclair found
few chances near goal and, fitness permitting, will have to wait
until Canada's clash with Australia in Melbourne to potentially
become the first player to score at six World Cups.
(Reporting by Joel Dubber in Perth; Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
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