The Canadian women’s soccer team beat Panama 0-1 on Friday in the Concacaf W championship to qualify for the eighth World Cup in its history.

On the second day of Group B of the W Championship, Julia Grosso scored for the Canadians, who reached six points to lead their sector against Costa Rica, second and also qualified for the 2023 World Cup; the Panamanians are third and still dream of reaching the World Cup qualifiers.

Canada dominated the first half with 71% possession against a Panama who tried to surprise the North Americans with a counterattack.

In the ninth minute, the clearest warning for the Canadians came when Nichelle Prince nearly scored in a poor defensive start, but Panamanian goalkeeper Yenith Bailey saved the shot.

Panama was in danger at 21 with a mid-range shot from Laurie Batista that went over the crossbar of the goal defended by Sabrina D’Angelo.

The Canadians continued to be the best team in the game in the second half, but goaltender Bailey stopped the North Americans’ first two shots, first at 46 with a mid-range shot from Adriana León, then at 47 by Desiree Scott. .

Canada turned their superiority into a goal at 64. Julia Grosso stole a ball into the box, beat her marker and with her left foot made it 0-1.

Panama reacted in the 81st with a mid-range shot from Rosario Vargas that went just over D’Angelo’s crossbar.

– Technical sheet:

0. Panama: Yenith Bailey; Katherine Castillo, Yomira Pinzón, Yerenis De León, Wendy Natis (Rebeca Espinosa m.56); Laurie Batista (Erika Hernández m.56), Deysire Salazar, Hilary Jaén; Marta Cox (Lineth Cedeño m.70), Karla Riley (Shayari Camarena m.70) and Schiandra González (Rosario Vargas m.70).

Coach: Ignacio Quintana.

1. Canada: Sabrina D’Angelo; Ashley Lawrence, Shelina Zadorsky, Kadeisha Buchanan, Janine Beckie; Julia Grosso (Deanne Rose m.73), Desiree Scott (Quinn m.57), Nichelle Prince (Jayde Rivière m.45); Adriana León (Jordyn Huitema m.57), Christine Sinclair (Cloe Lacasse m.45) and Jessie Fleming.

Selector: Bev Priestman.

Goal: 0-1, m.65: Julia Grosso.

Referee: Mary Tori Penso, USA. He berated Katherine Castillo, Adriana León and Deysire Salazar.

Incidents: Match of the second day of Group B of the Concacaf W Championship, which distributes four direct places at the 2023 World Cup and one at the 2024 Olympic Games, played at the University Stadium of Monterrey, in northern Mexico.