The Canada women’s national team put itself in great position to advance to the quarterfinals from a sneaky-tough Group E with a hard-fought 1-1 opening draw against host Japan. But if it fails to beat the weakest team in the group, Chile, the Canadians could be in trouble.
The South American side is in its first Olympics, but the Chileans showed real resolve in their 2-0 loss to group favorite Great Britain. Only two fantastic strikes by star forward Ellen White broke the Chilean resistance. The Canadians will hope for similar production from their legendary striker, Christine Sinclair, at the Sapporo Dome.
Canada, in fact, lost the only other time these national teams have faced off. Chile took a 1-0 win in the 2013 Torneio Internacional in Brazil.
MORE: Updated women's soccer group standings
"Chile will not be an easy team to beat," said Canada head coach Bev Priestman. "They are a resilient team, they are aggressive, they like to player-mark, and that is not a style Canada is used to playing with. We will need to be clinical and have the right mindset, but I do believe we can get the three points."
Much was made of the Canadians’ struggles to score goals in the lead-up to the tournament. And they did only register one shot on goal in the entire match against Japan. Breaking down other teams is not their forte. They’ll need to commit numbers forward and trust that their superior skill and athleticism will win out.
How to watch Canada vs. Chile Olympic soccer
- Date: Saturday, July 24
- Time: 3:30 a.m. ET
- Spanish-language TV: Telelatino
- Streaming: CBC Gem, CBC.ca, CBC Olympics app
Canada’s second Group E match will air at 3:30 a.m. ET on CBC in English and on Telelatino in Spanish.
As with all Olympic soccer matches, Canada vs. Chile can be streamed live on CBC platforms: CBC Gem streaming service, CBC’s dedicated Tokyo 2020 website, and the CBC Olympics app.
MORE: Complete women's Olympic soccer schedule
Canada vs. Chile: Projected lineups
Priestman’s starting XI against Japan is arguably her best one. But those 11 players could be in for a slog if the likes of Janine Beckie and Nichelle Prince can’t beat players one-on-one to disorganize what will be an organized Chile defense. And the more time that goes by that the Chileans are successful at stymying Canada, the more confidence they’ll gain.
It would definitely constitute an attack-heavy bench to include all four of Deanne Rose, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens and Jordyn Huitema among the seven available subs. But it could prove costly to leave any firepower out of the matchday squad. They could all contribute in different ways with speed, dribbling skill and aerial ability if the situation gets desperate.
Starting goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, who left the match against Japan with a rib injury after a heroic penalty kick stop, is hopeful she can recover in time to play. If she can't, then backup Kailen Sheridan will start.
Canada projected lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): 18-Kailen Sheridan-GK — 2-Allysha Chapman, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 10-Ashley Lawrence — 5-Quinn, 11-Desiree Scott — 16-Janine Beckie, 17-Jessie Fleming, 15-Nichelle Prince — 12-Christine Sinclair
Canada projected substitutes: 22-Erin McLeod-GK, 6-Deanne Rose, 7-Julia Grosso, 8-Jayde Riviere, 9-Adriana Leon, 13-Evelyne Viens, 19-Jordyn Huitema
Canadians projected to sit out: 1-Stephanie Labbe-GK, 21-Gabrielle Carle, 20-Sophie Schmidt, 14-Vanessa Gilles
Chile projected lineup (4-5-1, left to right): 1-Christiane Endler — 18-Camila Saez, 3-Carla Guerrero, 14-Daniela Pardo, 6-Nayadet Opazo — 10-Yanara Aedo, 4-Francisca Lara, 11-Yessenia Lopez, 8-Karen Araya, 15-Daniela Zamora — 9-Maria Jose Urrutia
Chile projected substitutes: 12-Natalia Campos-GK, 5-Fernanda Ramirez, 17-Javiera Toro, 20-Francisca Mardones, 7-Yenny Acuna, 16-Rosario Balmaceda, 19-Javiera Grez
Chileans projected to sit out: 22-Antonia Canales-GK, 2-Yastin Jimenez, 13-Fernanda Pinilla, 21-Valentina Diaz
Canada vs. Chile: Odds & prediction
This game boils down to whether Canada’s attack can generate chances against a team that will be interested in doing nothing but sitting back. The urgency of the Olympic stage is one that should bring out the best in the Canadian women, and if Priestman doesn’t hold anything back, she has the players to get the job done.
Based on how the odds are looking, the betting pros are projecting a one-goal game in favor of Canada. In the interest of goal difference, Canada will want to at least match, if not surpass, Great Britain’s two-goal haul as it looks ahead to what could be a final matchup for first place in Group E against the British. That is, if things turn out the way they’re expected to against Chile.
Prediction: Canada 3, Chile 0
Odds courtesy of DraftKings
- Chile to win: +1400
- Draw: +550
- Canada to win: -500
- Canada -1.75 Asian Handicap: -105
- Canada -2 Asian Handicap: +130
- Canada to win in shutout: -155
- Canada to score in both halves: -105
