Canadian women pummel Scotland at Cyprus Cup
Coach John Herdman's squad scores 5 goals in opening game
Sophie Schmidt scored twice and Christine Sinclair added the 130th international goal of her career as Canada opened defence of its Cyprus Cup women's soccer title with a convincing 5-1 win over Scotland on a chilly afternoon Tuesday.
Kelly Parker and Melissa Tancredi also scored for the seventh-ranked Canadians. Jane Ross replied for the No. 22 Scots.
Sinclair's goal tied her with Kristine Lilly for third place on the all-time international list. It was also Sinclair's 10th goal of the season, marking the eighth time in 13 seasons she has reached double digits.
Parker opened the scoring in the sixth minute on a shot from 23 yards out. Rhian Wilkinson centred the ball up top to Parker, who fired a shot past Scottish goalkeeper Gemma Fay.
Scotland tied it when Ross banged in a rebound in the 13th minute off a fine save by Canadian goalie Stephanie Labbe.
Schmidt gave Canada the lead in the 36th minute, knocking a shot past Fay from 10 yards out. With a trio of Canadians buzzing down the right side, Wilkinson played a ball to a marked Schmidt, who stayed on her feet before slotting home.
Schmidt made it 3-1 six minutes into the second half, finishing off a rush with Parker and Sinclair. After Parker ran the ball up the middle, Sinclair took over and passed to Schmidt down the left, who fired a low shot that beat Fay on the short side.
Sinclair extended the lead in the 59th, curling in a right-footed shot off the post from 22 yards out for her 12th goal in 16 Cyprus Cup matches since 2008. Sinclair is one of just four Canadians to score more than 10 goals in a season, but the only player to do it more than once.
Tancredi made it 5-1 with a shot from 15 yards out in the 64th minute and had a chance to make it 6-1 in the 69th but she saw her shot hit the crossbar.
The Canadians have done well in Cyprus in recent years, making the final every year, and winning in 2008, 2010 and last year. Their all-time record is now 14-1-1.
The Canadians face 11th-ranked Italy on Thursday and No. 14 Netherlands on Sunday to wrap up Group B round-robin action.
Group A features England (No. 8), Finland (20), France (6), and Switzerland (25), while Group C is comprised of New Zealand (24), Ireland (54), South Africa (66) and South Korea (9).