Canada vs Panama result: Les Rouges clinch World Cup berth with 1-0 win on Julia Grosso goal

Simon Borg

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Canada vs Panama result: Les Rouges clinch World Cup berth with 1-0 win on Julia Grosso goal image

One down, one to go. The Canada women's national team achieved one of its two objectives at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, locking up a spot in the 2023 FIFA World Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Panama.

Thanks to a goal by Julia Grosso, Les Rouges secured one of the top two spots in Group B, thus claiming one of four automatic regional berths to next year's World Cup. The USA and Costa Rica also previously clinched World Cup spots, with one left to be determined on the final day of group play between Haiti and Jamaica.

"It's a surreal feeling," said Grosso, who now has three goals in two games. "I'm so happy for me and my team to qualify for a World Cup ... I think we've done good [in the tournament]. We lean on each other. I think today was a tougher one. We could've scored more goals. All in all, we got the job done and we're ready for the next game."

No. 57-ranked Panama, which set up in a defensively solid 5-4-1 formation, succeeded in stifling the Canadian attack for most of the match using numbers to defend their own penalty area. Adriana Leon and Nichelle Prince came closest in the first half, but their efforts failed to hit the target, and when they did, Panama's 21-year-old goalkeeper Yenith Bailey was up to the task.

Canada needed a moment of magic in the penalty area and one of its rising stars came through, as Grosso showed cool under pressure when the ball fell to her in the box in the 64th minute. She calmly faked a shot and then poked home her shot to give Canada the only goal it would need to secure all three points.

The Canadians will play their group stage finale against what will be the most dangerous opponent so far in the competition, Costa Rica. The two teams are even in every statistical category, meaning their showdown will determine which team finishes in first place in Group B and potentially avoids a semifinal against the USA.

If Canada, the reigning Olympic champions, can get past the semifinals and go on to win the final, it would be enough to secure a direct berth to another competition: the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The other North American berth to the women's Olympic tournament goes to the winner of a September 2023 playoff between the second-place and third-place teams.

MORE: CONCACAF W Championship standings, schedule, scores & highlights

CONCACAF W Championship Group B standings

Group B

Team GP Pts W-L-D GD
1. Canada-X 2 6 2-0-0 +7
2. Costa Rica-X 2 6 2-0-0 +7
3. Panama 2 0 0-2-0 -4
4. Trinidad & Tobago 2 0 0-2-0 -10

X = qualified to semifinals, clinch World Cup berth
Y = clinched World Cup intercontinental playoff berth

Canada vs Panama final score

  1H 2H Final
Canada 0 1 1
Panama 0 0 0

Goals:
CAN — Julia Grosso — 64th min.

Canada vs. Panama live updates, highlights from W Championship

Final: Canada 1, Panama 0

90th min.: Six minutes of stoppage time awarded by the referee.

80th min.: Canada's D'Angelo almost caught offer her line! Panama's Rosario Vargas, another one of the subs, attempts a lofted ball from distance with D'Angelo in an advanced position, and the Canada 'keeper had to backtrack, but she watched the shot sail just high of the goal.

76th min.: One of Panama's fresh subs, Shayari Camarena, forces a save out of Canada's D'Angelo.

74th min.: Canada sub — For Canada's final change, Deanne Rose comes in for the goalscorer, Julia Grosso.

70th min.: Panama subs — Rosario Vargas, Shayari Camarena,and Lineth Cedeno all enter the match as the Panamanians look to freshen up the legs and limit the damage with 20 minutes to go.

64th min.: Goal Julia Grosso! The ball falls to her in the Panama box after some buildup down the right, and she knows exactly what to do with it. She fakes a shot to avoid a defender, and then pokes it home with the space created. A second straight game with a goal for Grosso, and her third overall in the tournament.

61st min.: With Canada buzzing in the Panama box, we get another stoppage in play for a cramping Panamanian player. This is becoming a regular occurrence in this second half. Hard to believe it's not somewhat intentional by the Panamanians to break up any Canadian momentum.

57th min.: Canada & Panama subs — Quinn comes in for Desiree Scott in midfield, and Jordyn Huitema is on for Adriana Leon in attack.

Meanwhile, Panama bring on a new center back (Erika Hernandez) for an inconsolable Wendy Natis, who was cramping up and was forced to depart. Also, Rebeca Espinosa enters for midfield stalwart Laurie Batista.

47th min.: Adriana Leon's blast is saved by Panama's 'keeper once again. Leon has been taking the initiative in attack, but she hasn't yet been able to beat netminder Yenith Bailey. Panama's Bailey also came up big with two consecutive stops on the ensuing corner.

46th min.: Canada subs — And here come the subs. Jayde Riviere and Cloe Lacasse come in for Nichelle Prince and Christine Sinclair. That should mean that Beckie moves up in the attack with Riviere taking over at right back. No subs from Panama.

Halftime: Canada 0, Panama 0

Halftime: A frustrating half for Canada, which was stymied by a resolute Panamanian defensive block in a 5-4-1 tactical setup. It was a physical 45 minutes, but Canada was also dishing out the fouls with some arguably unnecessary infractions that gave Panama the opportunity to regroup, reset and alleviate the pressure.

Subs are likely coming for Canada, with Quinn's ability to change the point of attack and Jordyn Huitema's slicing runs in the box potentially proving valuable keys to unlock the Panamanian defense. Effective 1-on-1 play is also needed for Canada: To that end, Les Rouges could use Janine Beckie as a presence inside the box, instead of operating wide from her current right back position.

49th+ min: Adriana Leon delivers the final salvo of the half for Canada with a beautiful volley that's just off the mark. Tough to know how much the wind is impacting these shots and deliveries.

45th min: Five minutes added on and Canada could use every minute the way things are shaping up.

42nd min: Nichelle Prince with a great chance! She ran onto a ball clipped over the top and beat the Panama 'keeper to it, but the attempt finished off target. Canada remaining patient here despite the 0-0 deadlock.

38th min: Panama takes a free kick and it is on goal, forcing Canada goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo into a comfortable save. It's her first intervention of the night.

31st min: Yellow card for Panama's Katherine Castillo for taking down Adriana Leon, who's been a foul magnet tonight.

27th min: Nichelle Prince is brought down at the edge of the area and a VAR check is needed to verify it's not a penalty kick after play was previously stopped for an offside. The offside call on the field stands meaning a penalty is not an option.

22nd min: Panama threatens. Laurie Batista fires a shot from distance, but it just misses the frame.

19th min: Leon again with a chance! She darts into the middle of the box, leaving the left wing to left back Ashley Lawrence. The latter whipped in a cross which Leon headed just high of the target.

15th min: Canada's Adriana Leon converges from the left wing and fires at goal with her right foot, but the Panamanian goalkeeper makes the save.

10th min: Nichelle Prince wreaking havoc! She presses the Panama defender in the opposition box and blocks an attempted pass, sending it on goal. The Panama 'keeper has to parry away, leading to a corner kick. But nothing results from it for Canada.

3rd min: Canada with the early opportunity on a set piece as Kadeisha Buchanan misfires on a shot from a corner kick.

1st min: We're underway in windy Monterrey.

18 mins from kickoff: The words from the manager prior to kickoff: "It means more to us to qualify for this World Cup."

75 mins from kickoff: The scenario is clear for the Canada women's national team tonight:

Canada vs Panama lineups

Manager Bev Priestman made five changes to the starting lineup to keep the team fresh ahead of the group finale against its strongest competition in Group B, Costa Rica. Julia Grosso, one of the difference-makers off the bench against Trinidad and Tobago, gets the start in midfield over Quinn. Janine Beckie will feature at right back, while Sabrina D'Angelo gets the start in goal.

Canada starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 18-Sabrina D'Angelo (GK) — 10-Ashley Lawrence, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 3-Kadeisha Buchanan, 16-Janine Beckie — 7-Julia Grosso, 11-Desiree Scott, 17-Jessie Fleming — 19-Adriana Leon, 12-Christine Sinclair, 15-Nichelle Prince

Canada subs (12): 21-Kailen Sheridan (GK), 2-Lysianne Proulx (GK), 14-Vanessa Gilles, 23-Bianca St. Georges, 8-Jayde Riviere, 2-Allysha Chapman, 21-Zoe Burns, 13-Sophie Schmidt, 5-Quinn, 20-Cloe Lacasse, 6-Deanne Rose, 9-Jordyn Huitema

MORE: Who are the best women's national teams in the world?

Panama was overwhelmed against Costa Rica in their Group B opener, beaten on possession, shots, shots on target and corners in the 3-0 loss. Most notably, Panama resorted to hacking its opponent, committing 20 fouls to Costa Rica's 11.

Head coach Nacho Quintana made wholesale changes to the squad to face Canada, with only four players retaining their place including Marta Cox, the team's most promising attacker. Laurie Batista is the anchor of the midfield, and goalkeeper Yenith Bailey and defender Katherine Castillo are the others to make a return to the starting XI.

Panama starting lineup (5-4-1): 12-Yenith Bailey (GK) — 2-Hilary Jaen, 13-Wendy Natis, 14-Yerenis De Leon, 5-Yomira Pinzon, 4-Katherine Castillo — 20-Schiandra Gonzalez, 8-Laurie Batista, 6-Deysire Salazar, 10-Marta Cox — 9-Karla Riley

Panama subs (12): 1-Sasha Fabregas (GK), 22-Nadia Ducreux (GK), 3-Carina Baltrip, 16-Rebeca Espinosa, 23-Rosario Vargas, 7-Kenia Rangel, 17-Gabriela Villagrand, 21-Whitney De Obaldia, 15-Maria Guevara, 18-Erika Hernandez, 11-Shayari Camarena, 19-Lineth Cedeno

MORE: Canada slams Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in CONCACAF W Championship opener

Canada vs. Panama TV channel, live stream

  In USA In Canada
Date Fri, July 8 Fri, July 8
Time 10 p.m. ET 10 p.m. ET
TV — Telus (Ch. 980), CBC Sports
Live Stream Paramount+, ViX fuboTV, OneSoccer, CBC Gem

USA: The CONCACAF W Championship match will be streamed on Paramount+ (English) and ViX (Spanish).

CANADA: The Canada women's soccer match will be televised live by CBC Sports and on OneSoccer, which is streamed on fuboTV. New fuboTV users can take advantage of a discount on quarterly and monthly plans.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.