Canadian women's soccer team defeats Brazil 2-1 to win Algarve Cup

The Olympic-bound Canadian National Soccer Team has won the 2016 Algarve Cup, defeating Brazil 2-1 in the final in Portugal today.

You’ve got to love when Canada beats Brazil in soccer, men’s or women’s, at any level of competition.

CHAMPS- algarve cup 2016- we didn't settle today. so proud of this group, we on full force! #AFTA #CanWNT 🇨🇦👌🏼🏆 pic.twitter.com/npg5sJkZ6a

— Janine Beckie (@janinebeckie4) March 9, 2016

The Algarve Cup is an invitational tournament that Canada entered to prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic soccer tournament.

“I think genuinely this is a tough tournament,” said head coach John Herdman after Canada’s first game of the tournament, a 1-0 loss to Denmark. “These European teams, they all have physically dominant players, so you know that every game is going to be tough and that’s what we’re challenged with.”

After losing to Denmark 1-0, Canada rattled off wins against Belgium (1-0) and Iceland (1-0) to finish on top of Group A.

That set-up a final with the 7th ranked Brazilians, led by their star goal scorer, Marta.

Canada didn’t win off the back Christine Sinclair on this day, instead relying on a couple of youngsters to score goals.

Canada just beat Brazil in the #AlgarveCup. This is what you call major progress! #CanWNT #Rio2016 Massive win!

— James Sharman (@jamessharman) March 9, 2016

Twenty-three-year-old Shelina Zadorsky scored in the 60th minute to make the score 1-0, while 21-year-old Janine Beckie extended the lead to 2-0 in the 67th minute. Brazil made it close in the 89th minute, but Canada held on for the victory.

Canada’s next star soccer player, 20-year-old Kadeisha Buchanan, won player of the tournament.

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