Women's World Cup 2015: Canada Have to Find More Ways to Score

Of course it was up to Christine Sinclair to score the winning goal against China in the opening match of the 2015 Women's World Cup. There is no bigger player for Canada.

"Can you imagine the pressure on that woman's shoulders?" coach John Herdman told TSN after the match. "That's what she's born for."

Her eighth World Cup goal was a little bit different. Never before had so many people watched the Canadian national team at a venue—officially a crowd of 53,058 on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium—and in the 92nd minute, Sinclair stepped up to the penalty spot and decided a game that seemed destined to end as a scoreless draw.

The reliance on Sinclair is nothing new. She scored seven of Canada's 13 goals in the previous two big tournaments. It's almost exclusively up to her to get her country out of difficult positions.

"Cometh the hour, cometh the woman," Herdman told the Canadian Press (via the Globe and Mail).

It's not that Canada did not play to win the game. They had four of their shots blocked in the first half alone, and they had double the possession of China. Herdman wants his team to take control.

"I’m more in line with former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan’s forward-thinking emphasis than Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s stifling approach to games," Herdman wrote in the Globe and Mail.

"Even if my team’s a goal up and I feel momentum is on our side, I’m going to ask my players for a second, a third and a fourth goal."

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

That spirit of persistence was evident, as Canada kept on going for goal despite their frustrations. They attempted 14 shots in total. They hit the crossbar. They were relentless until the end.

But they need more than Sinclair to win games.

Canada needs more from Melissa Tancredi, who has for many years been Sinclair's partner in attack. Tancredi had set up two of Sinclair's three goals against the U.S. in a 4-3 semi-final loss in the 2012 Olympics. There is history.

Tancredi, however, has to find the net herself. She only has one World Cup goal to her name. That has to change, especially with Sinclair in a more withdrawn position. Tancredi was not much of a factor against the Chinese, nor was striker Jonelle Filigno.

Herdman must have noticed. He switched his formation to a 3-4-3 and threw on Adriana Leon for Tancredi. That proved decisive.

The 22-year-old Leon, after earning the penalty in stoppage time of her first-ever World Cup match, could provide the necessary relief for Sinclair. It was Leon who put herself in front of the defender and drew the foul, showing her willingness to get in dangerous situations. Leon may be the hidden secret of the tournament.

Before that substitution, chances came and went without much ado. Only four shots hit the net. Canada lacked sharpness in the 18-yard box. They hesitated to shoot and gave China enough time to close Canada down.

Against a more punishing team, the hosts could have easily lost that game. China had a bit of misfortune themselves, as a free kick from Wang Lisi struck both posts in the first half. It could have changed the match. It could have ruined Canada's whole tournament.

Take the three points and run.