In Desiree Scott’s farewell match, Canada said goodbye to one of its icons as they defeated Haiti 4-1 on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Investors Group Field in Scott’s hometown of Winnipeg.
“It’s about another opportunity to wear the red and white and just enjoy the moment out there on the field with my team,” said Scott pre-game. “I’m grateful that I’m here in Winnipeg with family and friends in the stands and getting this opportunity to go for one more.”
An opening brace from Adriana Leon and two goals in the second half from Shelina Zadorksy and Olivia Smith marked the start of a new beginning in the Casey Stoney era, led by assistant coach Natalie Henderson. Janine Stonis was the player of the match, assisting on all four goals this afternoon.
Although Stoney was not made available to the media Saturday, assistant coach Natalie Henderson praised Scott and the group’s performance.
“It was a perfect start,” said Henderson post-game. “We were clear that today was about Desi and to give her the best send-off. The fans were incredible, and hopefully, we’ve given her the credit she deserves.”
Leon scores twice for Canada in the opening stages
Putting pressure in the opening stages and on the front foot, Canada opened the scoring early in the 7th minute. Picking up the ball off a deflection, Bianca St-Georges sent a ball out wide to Sonis. Sonis sent in a direct ball across the goal into Leon, who controlled the cross with her chest and thumped a shot into the net to give Canada the early 1-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, Canada doubled their lead in the 9th minute. Building out from the back, Vanessa Gilles sent in a looping ball into Sonis out wide. Taking it inside to the top of the box, Sonis found Leon unmarked inside the penalty box. Using her left foot, Leon hit a thunderous strike into the top left corner to make it 2-0 inside the first ten minutes.
Continued attacking pressure from Canada
Canada continued to push following their opening spell. A minute after the second goal, Marie-Yasmine Alidou had a shot from distance that went just wide of the post. Moments later, Sonis had an opportunity to cut inside the box, but her curling shot went straight into the hands of Haitian goalkeeper Kaina Pietrus.
Haiti had some opportunities sprinkled throughout the half, but were not able to test Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan from distance.
Leon continued to be dangerous and lively on the left side. She had a couple of opportunities for the hat-trick as a shot from distance sailed over the bar and a drive into the box ended up in the side netting.
Haiti had its best chance of the first half in the last minute of added time. From a free-kick sent into the box, the ball was blocked by Jordyn Huitema and deflected to Roseline Éloissaint. Éloissaint took a touch in tight, but sent her curling shot just over the crossbar.
After the break, Canada had multiple opportunities inside the opening minutes. A free-kick from Sonis forced Pietrus to make a save down low. Inside the penalty area, Huitema had a shot go over the bar, and Alidou had an opportunity one-on-one but sent the shot just wide of the post.
With their sustained pressure, Canada found a third goal in the 50th minute. Off a set piece, Sonis sent a corner to Zadorksy alone at the back post, who hit a one-time volley with her left foot that squeezed past Pietrus into the back of the net.
Haiti gets on the scoresheet
Two minutes later, Haiti found an answer in the 52nd minute. Picking the ball in the middle, Melchie Dumornay drove with pace past the Canadian defensive line and sent in a low cross into Louis Batcheba. Batcheba, whose initial shot was blocked by Gilles, picked up her rebound and sent it past Sheridan to put Haiti on the scoresheet.
Canada almost responded a minute later when Alidou sent in a ball into the penalty area for Huitema, but she was unable to get a clean shot on target.
In the 55th minute, Desiree Scott was subbed off in her 188th and final appearance for Team Canada. Playing as a defensive midfielder, she was still instrumental in her final match, winning the majority of her duels and making key, accurate passes into the attacking front line. She was emotional, embracing her teammates and walking off the field for the final time to a standing ovation from the crowd.
A minute after the substitution, Éloissaint had an opportunity to add a second goal, as her header from the six-yard box just missed to the left.
In the 91st minute, Canada closed out the game with their fourth goal of the match. A ball from Simi Awujo sent Sonis into the penalty box, where her initial shot was blocked by Jennyfer Limage. Off the rebound, Sonis sent in a cross to an unmarked Smith, who headed the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-1 for Canada.
A complete Canada performance
It was a complete performance from Canada, which dominated at both ends of the pitch. They outshot Haiti 21-13, with 17 of them inside the box. They controlled the majority of possession in the middle of the pitch and were highly successful entering the final third.
Zadorsky and Gilles were solid defensively for Canada and made several crucial blocks in tight. A quiet and steady performance from Jessie Fleming in the middle of the pitch also allowed Leon, Alidou, and Sonis to drive the offensive line.
“I think in the first half we were happy, and there were a lot of positives,” said Henderson post-game. “With a new group and a new coaching team, it is a new chapter. We are trying to play with a certain identity, and the message is that we are heading in the right direction. There are things we need to tidy up, but we’re happy with the performance and we’re on track in the right direction.”
When asked about the crowd, Haiti head coach Malou Quignette said, “We saw the atmosphere, [Desiree]’s a legend and she deserves this. We felt that there’s a big community here.”
Commenting on his team’s performance, Quignette added, “When you play a top ten team, you have to be ready from the beginning. Without a warmup, we started the game 15 minutes later. I felt that we were able to cause trouble and chaos, and there were many positive points. We have to hold the ball more and be more dynamic and consistent in our own and our opponent’s box.”
As Canada’s fourth-most-capped player, Scott was a core part of Canadian women’s soccer on and off the pitch. With a resume that includes two bronze medals and a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, she will be remembered as a fan favourite and icon on the international stage.
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Asked about Desi’s leadership on and off the field, Henderson said, “Just being around her, she embodies what you want in a national team player. With the way she is with the players, coaches, and the fans, she has a presence when she enters a room. She is an incredible player, and we were proud to have her in the national team.”
Adding what she feels Desi’s legacy will be on the team, Henderson said that “it has allowed the players to express who they are, taking bits of Desi and carrying the standards she set. We’re fortunate we have a blend of personalities and experiences on the team, and we want to inspire the next generation.”
The two sides will meet again on Tuesday, June 3, at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
