(CBC) After being held to one goal in its last game, Canada poured on the offence today, hammering Guyana 8-0 at the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Cancun, Mexico.
Captain Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., scored four goals to run her national team record tally to 106 and help Canada improve its record to 2-0 at the CONCACAF event.
The Canadians will earn a spot in the semifinals if Mexico either beats or ties Trinidad and Tobago later on Sunday in the other Group A game. The United States and Costa Rica, first and second in Group B with one game left to play each, have already qualified for the final four.
Canada is 13th in the current FIFA world rankings compared to 85th-ranked Guyana, and the enormous gap between the two sides was in full evidence.
How the tournament works
The CONCACAF qualifier is an eight-team competition for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
The tournament, scheduled for Oct. 28 to Nov. 8, sees Canada compete in Group A with hosts Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. Group B is composed of the United States, Costa Rica, Haiti and Guatemala.
The tournament finalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the third-place team will meet Italy in a two-game playoff for the right to travel to Germany.
The Canadians ran their completely overmatched opponents ragged from the opening kickoff, putting the Guyanese defence under constant pressure. Canada poured forward in attack while meeting little resistance and barely ceded possession as Guyana scrambled in vain to win the ball back and stem the powerful Canadian tide.
Coach Carolina Morace made six changes to Canada’s lineup that started in Friday’s 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
Three players — goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, midfielder Chelsea Stewart and forward Christina Julien — all made their first-ever competitive appearances for Canada. Midfielders Kara Lang, Desiree Scott and Carmelina Moscato also started.
It took Canada only 15 minutes to open its account, Julien making a nice move at the top of the box before firing a left-footed shot inside the post.
Canada doubled its advantage in the 34th minute. Guyana goalkeeper Catherine Kobelka let a corner kick slip through her hands and Sinclair pounced on the mistake by stroking the ball home for her first goal of the tournament.
Canada put the game out of reach when Jonelle Filigno scored within 60 seconds of the start of the second half on a setup from Lang.
Sinclair netted her second of the game four minutes later, and then completed her hat trick in the 63rd minute, sublimely chipping Kobelka on a one-on-one break. It was the ninth hat trick of Sinclair’s international career.
The Canadian captain scored her fourth in the 74th minute, and then turned playmaker moments later when she set up Filigno for her second goal of the night. Lang completed the rout with Canada’s eighth goal in the final minute of regulation time.
Canada’s final match of the group stage is Tuesday against host Mexico (CBC Bold, CBCSports.ca, 9:30 pm ET).
The Canadians are attempting to qualify for their fifth consecutive Women’s World Cup, scheduled for next summer in Germany.