Canada improved to 2-0 at the 2014 Cyprus Cup on Friday, defeating Italy 3-1 behind goals from Diana Matheson, Adriana Leon and Kaylyn Kyle.
Matheson opened the scoring in the 34th minute and Leon doubled Canada’s advantage 10 minutes later. Kyle made it 3-0 just before halftime before Cristiana Girelli earned a consolation goal for Italy in the 51st minute.
Canada ends group play on Monday against England in a rematch of last year’s tournament final. The winner will advance to the 2014 final, which could feature France as an opponent…
France 3, Australia 2
France jumped out to an early lead and then held on in a barn burner in Cyprus on Friday, beating Australia 3-2. Marie-Laure Delie opened the scoring for France in the 12th minute before Élodie Thomis and Louisa Necib scored back-to-back goals in the 27th and 29th minutes, respectively. Sam Kerr cut into France’s lead in the 53rd minute and Emily Van Egmond netted a second for Australia 12 minutes later, but Les Bleues held off the Matildas for the win.
Highlights:
Switzerland 2, New Zealand 1
Disappointment continued for New Zealand at the 2014 Algarve Cup with a 2-1 loss to Switzerland on Friday. Hannah Wilkinson gave the Football Ferns a bright start with her 2nd-minute goal, but Eseosa Aigbogun scored in the 65th and 67th minutes to lift Switzerland. New Zealand had made noise in the fall by winning the Valais Cup in Switzerland, then drawing the United States in San Francisco.
Scotland 4, Netherlands 3
After beginning the tournament on Wednesday with a hard-fought draw against France, Scotland put up four goals on the Netherlands on Friday in a tight 4-3 victory. Lisa Evans, a 21-year-old striker for Turbine Potsdam, scored a first-half hat trick, finding the net 15th, 18th and 34th minutes. Marlous Pieëte got one back for the Netherlands before the break and Lieke Martens got the Netherlands back into the match, but Jennifer Beattie scored a fourth for Scotland to put the game out of reach, even after Manon Melis’ 70th minute goal.
England 3, Finland 0
Anita Asante scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 31st minute and Gemma Bonner and Eniola Aluko added insurance goals in the 67th and 72nd minutes, respectively, to help England comfortably defeat Finland.
Ireland 1, South Korea 1
Louise Quinn scored the lone goal in the 24th minute for Ireland, who were impressive on Wednesday in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand. The Irish continue to punch above their weight at the Cyprus Cup with a second straight draw. South Korea’s young star Ji So-Yun scored the equalizer in the 38th minute.
RELIVE: Cyprus Cup Day 1 results
