The Canadian women's national team has qualified for the Round of 16 in the 2019 FIFA Women's World, securing the berth by defeating New Zealand 2-0 on Saturday at the Stage des Alves in Grenoble to take six points out of their first two Group E matches. Goals from Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince secured the result, and now sets up a group-deciding final clash on June 20 in Reims against the Netherlands, who also won their first two matches of the group against New Zealand and Cameroon. Fleming's 48th minute opener came on the counter as Prince burst down the left wing, before cutting in and spotting her teammate unmarked in the box. Fleming hit a first-time shot past the 'keeper and celebrated an early second-half lead. Prince added to that tally in the 78th minute, as Christine Sinclair rose for a header on an Ashley Lawrence cross, but smacked the ball against the post, landing kindly for Prince to clean up. "We had more shots on goal today than we had in the first group stage match. It was all about finding a way," said CanWNT manager Kenneth Heiner-Moller. "We don't need to pass it in from five yards from the net, but, when we do it's pretty good. We're a gritty team. The team is getting better and better, as good teams do in these tournaments." More to come.

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