Football News: Canada coach Bev Priestman was unhappy with the 0-0 draw with Nigeria but was hesitant to blame Christine Sinclair after the captain failed to score from the penalty spot.
Sinclair’s weak shot was stopped by Chiamaka Nnadozie, who dived low to his left in the 50th minute. The stoppage helped Nigeria, the lowest ranked team in Group B, secure a valuable point in Melbourne.
With the prospect of becoming the first player to score in six World Cups, Sinclair, 40, squandered a great chance in the ninth minute when he fired wide.
“Christine Sinclair has scored many, many, many goals for this country and I’m sure the fans, the team and everyone can forgive the missed shots,” Priestman told reporters.
“I thought the penalty was a 50-50 chance and today ‘Sinc’ didn’t score.
“Sinc have high standards and are a bit of a perfectionist, but at the end of the day this team and this country love Christine Sinclair more than anything so they will support her and we will be ready and prepare her for the next game.”
Although Sinclair has scored 190 goals in his stellar career, he’s usually not Canada’s first choice to convert from the spot. This task should have fallen to Jessie Fleming, but the midfielder could not be involved due to injury.
“It certainly wasn’t an option in the game, but it was intended,” said Priestman, whose side will next face Ireland.
Article tags: Nigeria, Canada, Christine Sinclair
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