HIGHLIGHTS: CanWNT cruise to 4-1 win over Haiti in Desiree Scott's final international appearance
The Canadian women's national team celebrated the final match of Desiree Scott's international career with a 4-1 victory over Haiti on Saturday afternoon, at Princess Auto Stadium in Scott's hometown of Winnipeg.
Canada were the aggressor right from the opening whistle, with Adriana Leon and Jessie Fleming firing shots within the first five minutes. Leon’s was blocked and fell to Fleming, who sent her follow-up effort over the crossbar.
Leon didn’t take long to find the back, though, beating Haitian goalkeeper Kaïna Cesar Pietrus in the seventh minute after taking down a cross from Janine Sonis with her chest before smashing the ball into the back of the net for her 43rd international goal. Goal number 44 followed shortly after, with that same duo linking up again two minutes later. Sonis cut left across the pitch and picked out Leon with a low pass. Leon took a touch before picking out the top left corner with a powerful shot that the goalkeeper could get a strong enough hand to.
Sonis tried for a goal of her own in the 18th minute, cutting to the left again and shooting, but she was slightly off balance and it led to a routine stop. Three minutes later she played an early cross into the box for Jordyn Huitema, who couldn’t redirect the ball on target.
Haiti’s star player Melchie Dumornay sliced through the Canadian side just after the half-hour mark, but the Canadian backline recovered well to get the ball away from danger. After a few minutes where Haiti had the momentum, Leon was back to her old tricks, nutmegging a defender before firing a low shot at Cesar Pietrus, but this time hitting the side netting.
Fleming played a low cross into the box in first half stoppage time that both Marie-Yasmine Alidou and Sonis were in range of, with Sonis ultimately taking a shot with her first shot that soared over the crossbar.
Canada struck again quickly when play resumed at the start of the second half. Sonis sent a corner kick to the back post, where Shelina Zadorsky was ready to volley it past the Haitian goalkeeper to triple Canada’s lead in the 50th minute – a third assist in the game for Sonis.
Haiti responded quickly after the third Canada goal, with Batcheba Louis slotting the ball home. Dumornay made another lung-busting run up the pitch and played the ball laterally to Louis, whose first shot was blocked by Vanessa Gilles before she pounced on the rebound for an easy finish.
A few minutes later, Desiree Scott walked off the pitch for the final time in her incredible international career, receiving a loud ovation from the crowd in her hometown and hugging many of her teammates and the Canada staff in an emotional moment.
STANDING OVATION 👏
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 31, 2025
Desiree Scott is subbed off in her 188th and final appearance for the @CANWNT, and the crowd erupts 🇨🇦#CanWNT | 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/1udVl015Mn
The match slowed down a bit later in the game, partly due to the muggy weather in Winnipeg. Canada had one more goal in them, though, with Olivia Smith heading home a cross from Sonis to put the icing on the cake in a fairly comfortable victory. Smith tried to pick out the top corner with a free kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time as well, but her effort skimmed the top of the crossbar.
These same sides will meet again at Stade Saputo in Montreal on Tuesday for the second match of this two-game friendly series.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Canada: Sheridan; St-Georges (Rose 46’), Gilles, Zadorsky, Carle; Beckie, Fleming (Viens 74’), Scott (Awujo 56’), Alidou (Grosso 70’), Leon (Smith 70’); Huitema
Haiti: Cesar Pietrus; A. Pierre-Louis, Limage, Constant (Vilgrain 85'), K. Louis (Joseph 85'); D. Pierre-Louis (Moryl 62’), Bien-Aimé; Jeudy (Domond 74’), Dumornay, Éloissaint; B. Louis
Goals
7' -- Adriana Leon (Canada)
9' -- Adriana Leon (Canada)
50’ – Shelina Zadorsky (Canada)
52’ – Batcheba Louis (Haiti)
90+1' -- Olivia Smith (Canada)
Player of the Match
Janine Sonis, Canada
With assists on all four Canadian goals, Janine Sonis was the focal point of the Canadian attack all afternoon.
