Comeback against Ireland has Canada primed for World Cup showdown with Matildas

Confidence is growing in the Canada camp ahead of Monday night’s FIFA Women’s World Cup battle with the Matildas in Melbourne.

Canada celebrates a goal against Ireland. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Canada coach Bev Priestman has warned the Matildas that her rejuvenated side could be “unstoppable” when the teams meet in Monday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B showdown in Melbourne.

After a slow start to the tournament, the Canadians – gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympics – kicked into gear in the second half of their 2-1 win over Ireland on Wednesday night in Perth.

It moved Canada to four points from two matches, and another win over the Matildas next week would secure Priestman’s team top spot in the group.

“It could be the making of us,” Priestman said of Canada’s effort to come back from a goal down to beat the Irish, whose hopes of reaching the knockout stages are over.

“The character, the quality, the experience that came about in the second half – that’s the type of performance that we need moving forward.

“When we play brave, we can be unstoppable.”

Canada coach Bev Priestman says her players can be ‘unstoppable’. Picture: Colin Murty / AFP

Canada has no fear about playing against the Matildas, having beaten them twice in Australia in August last year.

However, Priestman said the Australians had improved since then and would be dangerous with or without captain and star striker Sam Kerr, who is yet to play in the tournament due to a calf injury.

“We’re not going to roll into that (game) and think it’s going to be easy,” she said.

“Australia are a world-class side, and since we played them last August, they’ve got better, so we’ve got to be prepared for that.

“We came up against Sam Kerr the last two times we played them. She’s a world-class player of course, but what I do know with Australia (is that) yes, Sam Kerr is a big part of them but not the only part of them.

“They do have threats across the front four … Caitlin Foord and they’ve got some real pace in the forward line.

“We’ll be prepared to play against Sam Kerr, but we’ll also be prepared for the other threats that they have.”

Priestman also said the game against Ireland was also a good “rehearsal” for what the Canadians could expect in Melbourne such was the support for the Irish.

“It was like playing an away game. (It was) full of Irish fans in that stadium,” she said.

“It’s basically a rehearsal for what we’re going to go into in the Australia game. It’s a great experience for us to move forward from.”

Priestman said she was unsure of the condition of Canada’s captain Christine Sinclair, who was limping late in the game.

“I’ll have to get an understanding of that and find out what comes next,” she said.