Jordyn Huitema got a starting assignment for Canada’s national women’s soccer team Monday in a 2-1 friendly match win over Nigeria.
The teenager played 45 minutes up front before being subbed out at half-time for veteran Christine Sinclair.
Canada’s first goal came one minute into the second half, with Sinclair setting up Janine Beckie. Abbotsford native Sophie Schmidt scored the winning goal six minutes later.
The game was played at the Pinatar Stadium in Murcia, Spain and came on the heels of a 1-0 win at England four days earlier.
“It definitely was a battle. They gave us some physical challenges but I think we stood up to it,” said Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Møeller. “The most important thing was we showed composure, after going 1-0 down, it’s about keeping our structures right and keeping our composure. The second half was about us having more players in the penalty area and we definitely became more dangerous.
“This camp was all about partnership and sharpening the tools. It’s about finding more than one player to each position and I think we solved that. It’s a great group, in total, a great camp and two great wins.”
Huitema and her Canadian crew now look ahead to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They open June 10, facing Cameroon at the June at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. Canada travels to Grenoble for to play New Zealand June 15 at Stade des alpes and group play wraps up June 20 with a match against the Netherlands at Stade August-Velaune.
