Christine Sinclair of Canada missed a spot kick and a chance to become the first person to score at least a goal at six World Cups. As a result, Canada draws with Nigeria.
Sinclair made her 324th appearance for Canada. According to sportsbook website reports, Nigerian goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie saved Sinclair’s penalty kick.
Nnadozie had an impressive performance throughout the Group B match. She made several saves to help her side earn one point, including after Deborah Abiodun got a red card. Thus, Canada failed to capitalize after Nigeria was down to ten players.
Canada Draws with Nigeria
According to bookie software reports, Sinclair has scored at five different FIFA World Cups, joining Marta of Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal as the only other players to accomplish this feat.
When Canada plays the Republic of Ireland, which fell 1-0 to host Australia on Thursday, Sinclair, one of football’s all-time best goal scorers, will have an opportunity to add to her record 190 international goals and create history.
Considering Canada’s recent success, the country is favored to do well at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. It finally got its first major international championship in 2021 as the Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021. They won the gold medal by defeating Sweden in a penalty shootout. Despite having some great teams, Canada has had little success at the World Cup.
It has advanced to the quarterfinals or better in each of the previous two tournaments, including the round of 16 in 2019 (the first time the team has done so in a World Cup held outside of the United States and Canada). The best sportsbooks have Canada as the favorite to win this year’s World Cup.
However, this year’s expectations are sky-high due to its increasingly star-studded group, which comprises players that frequently feature and win championships worldwide.
It’s tough to find a hole on Canada’s roster with formidable offensive options like Sinclair and Adriana Leon. Also, the team has a solid defensive unit led by Kadeisha Buchanan, Allysha Chapman, Ashley Lawrence, and Shelina Zadorsky.
