Canada’s Christine Sinclair scores but Olympic host Japan tallies late in 1-1 draw

SAPPORO, JAPAN — Captain Christine Sinclair staked Canada to an early lead but Japan’s Mana Iwabuchi tallied late in a 1-1 draw in Group E women’s soccer play Wednesday at the Tokyo Olympics.

Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe stopped a penalty shot early in the second half before leaving the game due to injury.

Sinclair, making her 300th career national team appearance, hit the post with a strike in the sixth minute after a low cross by Nichelle Prince. The ball rolled across the goalmouth and Sinclair slotted it home with her left foot for her 187th career international goal.

Labbe was given a yellow card early in the second half after a collision inside the penalty area. The goalkeeper was down for several minutes, appearing to favour her left shoulder area, but stayed in the game and stopped Mina Tanaka’s attempt from the spot.

Kailen Sheridan replaced Labbe in the 58th minute. Iwabuchi pulled the host side even after she outran Canadian defender Shelina Zadorsky to a through ball and curled a shot past Sheridan in the 84th minute.

Canada will return to the Sapporo Dome to play Chile on Saturday before shifting to Ibaraki Kashima Stadium for a Tuesday game against Britain.

Eight teams will advance from the 12-country round-robin to the knockout stage. The final is set for Aug. 6 at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium.

Sporting red jerseys for the evening matchup in a spectator-free stadium, Canada used a 4-3-3 formation for the opener. Japan, wearing blue shirts with flashy designs, went with a 4-4-2.

Perhaps owing to some early jitters, both teams made uncharacteristic mistakes over the first few minutes.

Canadian right back Ashley Lawrence helped set up the opening goal by sending Prince down the wing. Sinclair one-timed the cross and had a read on the rebound, taking advantage of the flat-footed Japanese defence.

The sport’s all-time goal scoring leader, Sinclair had the winner in Canada’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the bronze-medal game at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She’s one of 12 returning players from the Rio squad. Fifteen of the 22 players on the full squad (which includes four alternates) have 50 caps or more.

Germany won gold in 2016 but failed to qualify for Tokyo. Canada also finished third at the 2012 Games in London.

John Herdman, now in charge of the Canadian men’s program, coached the women’s side to those back-to-back Olympic podium appearances. Bev Priestman has served as the women’s team coach since October.

There were few chances in a rather timid opening half on a hot summer evening. Japan tried working the ball along the wings but struggled to penetrate the Canadian back line.

Play picked up mightily in the second half.

Labbe mistimed a sliding challenge after a Japanese cross and hurt her left side when the opposing forward fell on top of her. An emotional Labbe was down for several minutes as she received medical attention.

She decided to stay in the game after completing a pushup and yoga prayer stretch. The referee originally called for a Canadian free kick but a penalty kick was awarded after a VAR review.

Tanaka took several small steps as she approached the spot before firing the ball to her left side. Labbe guessed correctly, blocking the shot before the Canadian defence cleared it away.

Canada entered the tournament at No. 8 in the latest FIFA women’s soccer rankings, two positions ahead of Japan. The United States, Germany and France hold the top three spots.

The Canadian women qualified for Tokyo by finishing runner-up to the U.S. at the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2021.