Game 21: Canada vs Ireland

After a 3 day family related hiatus, a return to watching football. Happily, it's for a fascinating match that could prove pivotal in a group that is extremely difficult to call. Canada, Olympic Champions and one of the game's powerhouses, could only draw with Nigeria in their first match. I say "only draw" but other than a missed penalty it was relatively even and we shouldn't discount Nigeria's quality. Ireland, as expected, lost to hosts Australia but fought hard and I'm expecting them to make it difficult again today. However, they can't afford to lose or they are out of the tournament. Let's go!

For Canada, two changes. Rose and veteran Christine Sinclair are replaced by Fleming, the Chelsea midfielder, and Viens. Ireland, who have had an extra day's rest make one change. Quinn in for Sheva. Not a massive surprise as Sheva was disappointing against Australia.

3 min: So close for Ireland. After a scrappy start, the Irish are the first to threaten. Ashley Lawrence, the Canadian left back, gets caught out of positioning and the newcomer Quinn is away down the right hand side. She slides a ball across to Carusa who slides in but her attempted flick is saved by Sheridan. It almost rebounds to her but Canada manage to scramble it away for an Irish corner. McCabe's delivery is, at first glance, too close to the keeper but Sheridan makes complete hash of it and it is, remarkably, 1-0 to Ireland!

7 min: McCabe goes on a decent run but falls a little easily in the box. British commentators making excuses for that on the basis that "loads of penalties have been given in the tournament". Come on now...

11 min: Another Irish corner. McCabe tries to swing it in test Sheridan but it's nodded away at the neat post. Canada haven't shown anything as yet and, if the accuracy of their passing is anything to go by, they are feeling the pressure.

13 min: I'm enjoying the physics battle between Kyra Carusa and the world class Kadeisha Buchanan. Carusa backing in and trying to bring runners into the game every time the ball is played forward. She's started well.

18 min: Ireland are allowing Buchanan to bring the ball out to the half way line every time Canada are building up. She's tending to find a pass but the next one has, too often, been launched forward to nobody.

19 min: This time it's Lucy Quinn working hard to close down the Canadian central defender and it's another corner for the Irish. Taken short this time to change the angle and it's McCabe in the thick of it again. First crossing, and then firing a shot well wide when the clearing header rebounded to her.

22 min: Better from Canada, albeit ruined by a poor cross. They showed a little more patience, finally getting Quinn and Fleming on the ball. That's imperative if they are going to break down the well organised Irish back line.

24 min: Moments later the ball falls to Canada's Jordan Huitema. She has a decent effort from the edge of the box but it's straight at Brosnan. She looks to be good in the air Huitema and a few times now Canada have aimed cross field balls at her head. Watch out for that moving forward.

29 min: After a break to deal with Lawrence's head injury (she's fine), Canada win a corner. Fleming can't beat the first man but it eventually come back to her. She crosses it in, Buchanan flicks on and Gilles misses a sitter on the volley from 6 yards out. If I'm being kind she was stretching a little bit.

32 mi; In Littlejohn and O'Sullivan, Ireland have two extremely willing workers in the middle of the park. They have managed to to cut the supply to Quinn and Fleming for the most part and are snapping at their heels whenever they so get the ball. Grosso could be the one for Canada though. A few times now she's managed to get the ball down and attack space. They need more of that to drag one of the three Irish central defenders out of their line.

36min: Carusa again bothering Buchanan who pulls her back on the half way line. Deserved yellow card for the Canadian.

37 min: Nice from Ireland. Farrelly beats a defender, more by luck than skill as she gets her feet tangled but confuses the defender. Her ball is flicked on to O'Sullivan in space but her shot from just outside the box flies well over the bar. Ireland are worth their lead.

39 min: I tell you what. Fleming has been really disappointing. She hasn't managed to influence the match at all. Apart from one decent cross her distribution has been ordinary and the Irish haven't let her get on the ball often enough for Canada's liking. As I write that, Carusa again gets behind Buchanan. It ends with a shot on target, albeit an unthreatening one.

43 min: Assuming Canada have a decent right back on the match, I'd be very surprised if Riviere is out there in the second half. Her passing has been awful. The only caveat to that is an assumption that she's there to stop McCabe rampaging forward.

45 min: Quinn's going nuts at their strikers as we head into injury time. They have tried to play balls into feet on the edge of the box a couple of times now and they clearly think the forward players aren't attacking the ball convincingly enough. Bucketing down in Perth by the way! Naturally, most of the Irish fans are in short sleeves! Gotta love 'em.

45 (+5) min: 1-1. Two lucky goals now. Grosso gets the ball wide on the left, cuts inside and crosses with her right foot. It's a decent inswinger and, unfortunately for Megan Connolly, she gets a slight touch when trying to intercept and it's in off the far post.

45 (+8) min" All of a sudden Canada look threatening and win a corner. It'll probably be the last kick of the half.... Brosnan makes a mess of it but, fortunately for her, Gilles heads wide.

Half Time: Interesting half. Carusa has been a handful for Canada and Ireland have been causing plenty of problems from set pieces. The Irish have also made it difficult for the likes of Fleming to get into the match and, as a result, have dealt with Canada pretty well in open play.

I'm sure the Canadians will focus on moving the ball a bit quicker, and with more precision, in this second half. They need to tire the Irish midfield so they can find more space as they are getting little joy from knocking the ball long. No surprise there give the size and aerial ability of Ireland's central defenders.

46 min: Three changes for Canada - Grosso (surprisingly), Buchanan and Viens off - Zadorsky, Sinclair and Schmidt on.

49 min: Good save Brosnan. Huitema rolls her defender on the edge of the box and curls it with her right foot towards the far corner. Brosnan dives to her left and palms it away.

53 min: 2-1 Canada. Sinclair plays a lovely ball between the centre backs and Leon takes a touch before calmly steering the ball past Brosnan with her left foot. Nice goal.

55 min: Looking ominous for Ireland. The momentum is all with Canada as Leon has another shot from 20 yards out. it goes well wide but the Irish can't clear their lines at the moment.

59 min: Sinclair has made a big difference. She's been really adept at finding space and Canada are starting to find passes into the midfield. They're looking dangerous every time they go forward now.

62 min: Yep Sinclair again finds a ball through to Leon but she shoots straight at Brosnan. Canada reminding passing angles through the Irish midfield now. Feels a matter of time before a third.

64 min: Ireland almost make me look stupid. McCabe plays a lovely one two wide left before sending a fantastic cross to the near post where Carusa can't quite get enough on the ball to direct it goalwards.

67 min: A chance for Sinclair this time. Good work from Huitema before Lawrence swings the ball to the far post where the veteran can't get her feet sorted when in more space than she thought. Followed quickly by Huitema's header forcing a save out of Brosnan.

70 min: Another decent cross from Lawrence. This time Lacasse makes a mess of a free header at the far post. Ireland aren't giving up though and McCabe, who is taking up more central positions, continues to try and drive them forward. Canada will want that third as it wouldn't be a complete shock if Ireland found a way through.

79 min: Brilliant from Katie McCabe. She goes on a mazy run that takes her to the rightbflank before cutting inside on to her left foot. Her shot is deflected wide.

82 min: If it's going to happen for Ireland you sense it will have to come from McCabe. She's everywhere, this time dispossessing Quinn and shooting well wide from 25 yards.

87 min: Sinclair does well again, finding a pocket of space on the edge of the box before feeding Huitema cutting in off the left flank. Good tackle from Fahey though.

90 min: The Irish are trying their hearts out. Both sides looking like they could score frankly and Canada are playing into Ireland's hands. They really should be taking the sting out of this but they are allowing it all to get a bit frantic. Every time the ball drops in the middle of the park 6 or 7 Irish players swarm forward. Just lacking a bit of quality.

90 (+3) min: Now the "injuries" start. Canada's right back Riviere requiring a bit of a calf rub. The Irish fans boo very loudly as she half runs/half limps off the pitch. She's being replaced by Chapman - I don't think there's much wrong with her. A professional substitution....

90 (+5) min: Good time management every since I mentioned it. Each throw in taking an age. McCabe is not impressed but I'm sure she'd be doing the same thing if the situation was reversed.

FULL TIME: That's it, 2-1 Canada. McCabe is absolutely hitting/kicking something in the dressing room.

Ultimately, you have to credit the Canadian substitutions for changing the game. Three players with a combined age of 105 came on, calmed things down and ensured that Canada gained control of the match in the second half. Not sure how sustainable it is to reply on that as a strategy but it sure worked against an Irish team who were incapable of keeping the ball and forcing the experienced players to run. Probably a deserved win in the end, given the number of shots that the North Americans managed, but the Irish never stopped. McCabe was inspirational but she doesn't have a lot of quality around her.

WOTM is a tough one in a fragmented match but I'd give it to Huitema, just, over McCabe. The former was dangerous whenever she was on the ball and, with a bit of luck, could have nabbed a goal or two.