HIGHLIGHTS: First-half surge leads Canada to hard-earned 3-1 win over Haiti

Canada got the better of Haiti for a second friendly match in a row on Tuesday night, earning a gritty 3-1 win at Montreal’s Stade Saputo. 

Canada was forced into an early substitution, with Olivia Smith coming off after just 12 minutes. She took a ball to the face when a Haitian defender tried to clear it after a set piece and spent a couple of minutes on the ground before ultimately being carried off the pitch on a stretcher – replaced by Adriana Leon. 

Les Rouges found the back of the net four minutes after the substitution, with Evelyne Viens heading the ball home from close range. Jessie Fleming picked up the ball along the left side of the penalty area and beat a defender with her pace before chipping the ball across to Viens, who nodded it on target to give Canada the early advantage. 

Fleming set up a second goal seven minutes later, playing another cross into the danger zone -- this time from the right side of the box onto the head of Holly Ward, who was left alone in front of the goal and made no mistake.

Haiti had a golden opportunity to score a few minutes later, with Melchie Dumornay bodying debutant Zara Chavoshi off the ball and charging toward the Canada net, before putting the ball on a platter for Batcheba Louis – who scored in Winnipeg on Saturday. Louis skied the ball from point blank range, though, letting Canada off the hook.

Viens added a third for Canada in the 42nd minute, running onto a perfectly-weighted through ball from Ward and taking a first-time shot. It struck goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar Pietrus but trickled through and into the back of the net for Viens’ second goal of the game.

Like they did in Winnipeg on Saturday, Haiti responded quickly after Canada scored their third, with Dumornay taking care of business herself from the penalty spot. Louis was brought down in the penalty area by Marie Levasseur, and Dumornay stepped up and buried her shot into the bottom right corner. 

Haiti had been growing into the game in front of a loud contingent of Haitian supporters, and came out stronger in the second half. Pressing higher up the pitch, the visitors put a lot of pressure on the Canadians, and as the clock struck the hour mark were able to string together a few counter-attacks that led to scoring opportunities and corners, with Sabrina D’Angelo called upon a couple of times in the Canadian net. 

Canada was also struggling at times with Haiti’s physicality on the defensive side of the ball, with Casey Stoney looking over at the fourth official with a confused look on a couple of occasions. After a sloppy giveaway in front of the Canadian penalty area, D’Angelo was called upon again in stoppage time, denying Dumornay with a huge save after the Haiti captain stole the ball, took a few steps, and aimed low and to the goalkeeper’s right. 

Despite arguably being the better team in the second half, Dumornay and Haiti weren’t able to find a second goal, and Canada held on for a 3-1 victory. 

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Canada: D’Angelo; Levasseur, Rose, Chavoshi (Gilles 56’), Carle (Sonis 46’); Ward (St-Georges 90+5’), Fleming (Alidou 64’), Regan, Awujo (Zadorsky 64’), Smith (Leon 12’); Viens (Briggs 64’)

Haiti: Cesar Pietrus; A. Pierre-Louis (Joseph 53’), Limage, Constant, K. Louis; Moryl, Bien-Aimé (D. Pierre-Louis 68’), Jeudy (Domond 81’), Dumornay, Éloissaint, B. Louis

Goals

16’ – Evelyne Viens (Canada)
23’ – Holly Ward (Canada)
42’ – Evelyne Viens (Canada)
45+2’ – Melchie Dumornay (Haiti) – penalty

Discipline

66’ -- Yellow: Shelina Zadorsky (Canada)

Player of the Match

Holly Ward, Canada

Making her first start for Canada, Ward was lively on the left flank and scored her first international goal with a header, before setting up Canada’s third with a perfect pass to unlock the Haitian backline.