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2012 London Olympics

Ms. Clutch: Sinclair lifts Canada to Olympics in 3-1 win over Mexico

Christine Sinclair. Does anything else need to be said when it comes to Canada’s women’s soccer team?

Sinclair, the captain, scored her 129th goal – tying her for third all-time with American Abby Wambach – in the 76th minute to lift Canada to a 3-1 victory over Mexico in Vancouver, B.C. on Friday. The goal was her second and the win qualified Canada for the Olympics later this year in London.

There is no denying how critical that goal was. Sinclair’s beautiful chip gave Canada the 3-1 lead just as the host country looked like it was about to succumb to an onslaught of pressure from Mexico.

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It was only nine minutes earlier that Veronica Perez silenced the crowd of 22,954 at B.C. Place with a rocket of half-volley to cut Canada’s lead to 2-1. That came after 20 minutes of sustained pressure from Mexico.

But Sinclair came through in the clutch just as Sinclair always does. She opened the scoring early on a ball from Melissa Tancredi, who got a goal of her own in the 23rd minute. Canada joins the United States as CONCACAF’s two Olympic qualifiers after a Friday that featured two semifinals with far more drama than anticipated.

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