AUSTRALIA – The Canadian Women’s National Team had their second match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Wednesday evening at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia against the Republic of Ireland, with the Olympic champions rallying for a 2-1 win.

The Girls in Green scored the quickest goal of the tournament so far, in the 4’, when captain and MF Katie McCabe scored the first ever Women’s World Cup goal for the Republic of Ireland with an ‘Olimpico’ goal that came from the right corner flag.

Canada looked to respond quickly, and DF Vanessa Gilles almost got her side back on level terms in the 30’ with an outstretched flick of the foot in front of goal but sent it over the crossbar.

In the last minutes of the first half, Canada equalized 1-1 when MF Julia Grosso’s cross hit the leg of Irish DF Megan Connolly, resulting in an own goal.

Canada turned things around and took the lead for the first time in the 53’ thanks to the services of FW Adriana Leon, who scored for a 2-1 Canada advantage. Leon received a cross in the box from MF Sophie Schmidt, controlling the ball with a first touch, getting past captain McCabe and GK Courtney Brosnan, and slotting home to giving her team the lead.

In the end, it was the current Olympic Champions who got to keep the three points, sitting now on top of the Group B table with four points.

The next and final group stage match for Canada will be against co-hosts Australia on Monday at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.