Germany showed that it is still the best in the world, although Canada proved it has narrowed the gap in a hard-fought battle in the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Canada created chances early, went down by a brace before the half, but held tight and cut the lead in half before falling 1:2 to the host nation. Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi scored for Germany before Christine Sinclair countered for Canada.
'We are more confident today than we were yesterday,' said national head coach Carolina Morace. 'We played a good game.We are not so arrogant to come here and say we are the best team in the world; absolutely not.'
Germany is the two-time reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. Today’s 26 June 2011 opening match drew 73,860 fans to the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
'If Christine Sinclair had scored on that first chance, we may have been talking about a different result,' said Morace.
Also on the opening day, France won 1:0 over Nigeria to gain three points and hold second place in the group standings behind Germany. Marie-Laure Delie scored the lone goal for France.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 runs 26 June to 17 July in nine cities. Canada’s next two match are 30 June against France (in Bochum) and 5 July against Nigeria (in Dresden).
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will leave for Bochum on 27 June.
Canada opened the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 with a valiant effort, but fell 1:2 to the host in a closely-fought match. Germany's Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi scored for Germany before Christine Sinclair countered for Canada in the 82nd minute.
The opening match of the sixth FIFA Women's World Cup was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 73,680 fans at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Canada couldn’t get the equalizer despite the late pressure.
"We had a good first half and we had more possession than Germany,” said Canadian coach Carolina Morace after the match. “The first match of the tournament is always very difficult and we knew that. I think the (spirit) that we showed was good.
"If Christine Sinclair was more lucky in the first half to score (on any early chance), then maybe we would be talking about another result."
GAME REPORT: Germany 2 - Canada 1
Moments earlier before the goal, Garefrekes had forced Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod to make a diving hand save on a dangerous shot. Later in the evening, Garefrekes would have another glorious chance on which she failed to convert, hitting it high over the crossbar from within the penalty area.
Late in the first half, Germany barely kept onside to play Okoyino Da Mbabi in alone. Three Canadians chased her in hard pursuit, but the German sent the ball low and past McLeod.
Canada's big chance in the first half came in the sixth minute. After some great work by Jonelle Filigno to dispossess the Germans, Diana Matheson made a great pass to Sinclair who went in on goal. Sinclair had her sights on goal, but struck the ball over the goal.
Later in the match, Sinclair received a direct elbow in the face, breaking her nose and pulling her off the pitch for a brief moment. No discipline was called on the infraction. She of course returned to field and set up her own late-game heroics.
Sinclair's free kick strike from 25 yards out re-energized Canada. After being pulled down on one of her runs, the referee awarded the dangerous free kick. Sinclair made no hesitation, taking the kick herself to curl it over the defensive wall and into the top right corner of the goal.
Late in the match, a Robyn Gayle cross nearly led to an equalizing goal. Emily Zurrer slipped behind the German defence, but hit the one-time shot out of bounds.
Germany was dominant at times and could have added to its lead with a pair of shots that struck the crossbar. Alexandra Popp and Simone Laudehr were both unlucky in their strikes.
Canada’s starting lineup featured Erin McLeod in goal, Marie-Eve Nault at left back, Emily Zurrer and Candace Chapman at centre back, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, and Jonelle Filigno, Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Melissa Tancredi and Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack.
In the second half, coach Carolina Morace replaced Kyle with Kelly Parker (46th minute), Nault with Robyn Gayle (46') and Tancredi with Brittany Timko (80').
Germany's starting XI featured Nadine Angerer in goal, Babett Peter at left back, Saskia Bartusiak and Annike Krahne at centre back, Linda Bresonik at right back, and Simone Laudehr, Melanie Behringer, Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, Kerstin Garefrekes, Kim Kulig and Birgit Prinz from the midfield up through the attack.
In the second half, coach Silvia Neid replaced Prinz with Alexandra Popp (56'), Okoyino Da Mbabi with Inka Grings (65') and Behringer with Fatmire Bajramaj (71').
THE GREAT GERMAN STRIKER
Celia Okoyino da Mbabi
Exactly a week before the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011™, Germany's longest-running Sunday evening drama Tatort (Crime Scene) treated its huge viewing audience to an episode centred on women's football. Celia Okoyino da Mbabi appeared in a cameo role, promising Germany would win the global crown for the third time in a row. Seven days later, her actions in front of a sell-out crowd at the Berlin Olympic Stadium fully lived up to her words.
The skilled forward turns 23 today, and she has three good reasons to celebrate. It is her special day of course, and she can also bask in the reflected glory of Germany's 2–1 victory over Canada. But thirdly, she can be delighted at her pivotal contribution to the victory in front of a huge 73,680 crowd. Celia’s outstanding performance fully repaid the faith shown in her by coach Silvia Neid, who surprisingly handed her a place in the starting line-up. Okoyino da Mbabi roused the Germans from a nervy beginning with her prodigious running and steady supply of inventive ideas. Furthermore, she was a constant source of worry to Canada’s otherwise solid defence.
“I'm happy we've opened with a win, but I'm also pleased we didn't stroll to a 4–0 victory. Now everyone knows we have a lot of hard work ahead," the 56-time international told reporters after what was undoubtedly her best display in a national shirt. Neid startled observers before kick-off by selecting Okoyino da Mbabi to play in the hole instead of veteran striker Inka Grings, but Celia is the form player of the moment and responded in style. Bursting with energy, she was the driving force behind her team, patently determined to spark the two-time world champions in front of their home crowd. In the wake of her stellar display, the player has surely cemented her position as one of the figureheads for a new German generation.
I realised I wasn't offside, I chased the ball down and just thought to myself: stick it away!Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, Germany forward.
The hype in the build-up may have been focused on other members of the squad, but it was Okoyino da Mbabi who made the difference in Berlin. She held up the play expertly in the manner of a born centre-forward, and always looked likely to win her one-on-one situations. For the coach, the superb display by the player wearing the number 13 shirt was less of a revelation. “Celia's played really well in our recent warm-up games, and then confirmed her excellent form in training. We always pick the team based on performance, so I simply had to play her," Neid explained.
Okoyino da Mbabi was responsible for Germany's vital second goal shortly before the interval, a moment she is unlikely to forget in a hurry. “Yes, it was a good goal. Once I realised I wasn't offside, I chased the ball down and just thought to myself: stick it away! The crowd spurred me on," she observed afterwards.
One of the intriguing storylines likely to develop over the course of this FIFA Women's World Cup is how the hard-running player with Cameroonian roots fares. She has long been regarded as an unpolished gem in Germany, but finally appears set to make the breakthrough on the world stage. The player herself is taking each game as it comes. “When we play Nigeria, our passing has to improve, and we have to settle better into the tournament."