Football
2019 Women's International Friendly, Women's International Friendly
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Associated Press 5y

England Women lose to Canada as Christine Sinclair scores 180th goal

Canada captain Christine Sinclair scored her 180th international goal to secure a 1-0 victory over England in a Women's World Cup warmup on Friday.

Sinclair scored in the 81st minute, pouncing after Nichelle Prince's shot came off the crossbar in front of 5,682 fans at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.

"I like to think I can be calm in that situation," Sinclair told The Associated Press on the goal. "I've been there a few times in my career."

Sinclair, 35, is now only four goals from matching the record of 184 goals held by the retired Abby Wambach of the United States.

"It's a huge honor just to be on this journey and chasing down Abby," Sinclair said. "I'm just trying to not have the goal thing being a focus going into the World Cup.

"Sooner or later, hopefully, [the goal record] will come," Sinclair said. "Whether it happens before during or after [the World Cup]. Just as long we continue to perform."

It was only last month that England won the SheBelieves Cup, which took it up to third in the FIFA rankings. But Toni Duggan endured frustration in front of goal with several misses on her return to Manchester, where she played for City before joining Barcelona in 2017.

"I didn't think we deserved to lose," England manager Phil Neville said. "I saw a team that tried to be brave. I thought our composure in the final third let us down, particularly in the second half."

England opens its World Cup campaign against Scotland in Group D on June 9 in Nice, France. Fifth-ranked Canada starts the next day in Group E against Cameroon in Montpellier.

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