ANALYSIS – Desiree Scott has officially played her final game for the CANWNT/CANXNT. She has played 188 games for her country, in a 4-1 win in Winnipeg at the Princess Auto Stadium.
Janine Sonis was a player to highlight for the game against Haiti, as she and others led the team in creating scoring chances for their teammates with their speed and passing play.
Janine Sonis Stepped Up in Desiree Scott’s Final CANWNT Game
Janine Sonis Was The Player of the Match
On Saturday afternoon, Janine Sonis showed off why she is such a valuable player for the national team. She has always been known as a player who can create scoring chances for her teammates. The game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is no different, as some of her passes included:
- Sonis’ cross following a corner, with Shelina Zadorsky making no mistake with her volley.
- Sonis’ cross inside the box to Olivia Smith, whose header was timed perfectly for the 4-1 win for the national team.
Sonis’ speed and agility were also on display. Her change in pace fooled the Haitian defender and, as a result, created a Canadian set-piece in a dangerous position against Haiti. She was also almost indirectly involved in another goal. She passed to Marie-Yasmine Alidou, who was able to deliver another pass to Jordyn Huitema, but her feet were not set.
Also, there was another chance for Smith to score from a Sonis cross-pass, but Smith was unable to control the ball.
Adriana Leon Continues to Deliver for the CANWNT
Adriana Leon, the CANWNT’s best striker as of right now, is showing that she is still in perfect form. She and Sonis were the big reasons why Canada started off the game so strongly. Both goals happened because of Sonis’ fantastic playmaking ability. However, that does not take away the two goals Leon scored, especially the second goal, where she delivered a powerful shot that just got past the Haitian goalkeeper, Kaïna Cesar Pietrus, and into the back of the net.
Leon also made a fantastic individual play, getting past the Haitian player. She shot the ball instead of delivering a pass inside the box. Still, it shows that Leon is feeling very confident and is able to create her own scoring chances. Leon is Canada’s best striker, so her being in form will be instrumental to Canada’s success as the team gets prepared for the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2027 Summer Olympics.
READ MORE: Adriana Leon: The Prolific CanWNT Striker
Haiti Looked Dangerous At Certain Moments of the Game
For most of the game, Haiti did not have much possession of the ball. However, when they did have the ball, they tried to take full advantage of it. One example is just after Zadorsky scored, Haiti took advantage of Canada being caught off-guard with a goal of their own, with Melchie Dumornay using her speed to get near the box as she passed the ball to Batcheba Louis, who converted her scoring chance. There were other times that Haiti looked dangerous, such as:
- Louis had a clear-cut chance to score just before the first half ended, but her shot was off-target.
- Louis passed the ball inside the box, but no other Haitian player was inside the box and Canada cleared their lines.
Haiti has troubled Canada at various points in the game. The Canadians will need to be more careful with Haiti’s counterattacks and be more organized defensively for the game on Tuesday.
Desiree Scott Played Her Final International Game
Saturday was all about Desiree Scott. Her 188th and final game for the CANWNT/CANXNT is now in the record books. The two-time bronze medalist and the one-time gold medalist, who might be most remembered for her key defensive performance to help Canada secure that bronze medal against France in the London 2012 Olympics. The midfielder will now put her focus entirely on the NSL/SLN as captain of the Ottawa Rapid FC/CF Rapide Ottawa.
READ MORE: Desiree Scott: CANWNT Player Profile of “The Destroyer”
This game could also be an audition for a potential NSL/SLN team in Winnipeg. There has been a report from the Canadian Soccer Daily (Source: Canadian Soccer Daily Staff) that Scott is trying to bring a team to her hometown city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Also, Canadian-American investor Mark Mitchell has said that expansion in the NSL/SLN could happen as early as 2027 (Source: John Jacques of The Northern Tribune).
The venue where the CANWNT played on Saturday against Haiti was at the Princess Auto Stadium, which could be the potential venue of an NSL/SLN team. The Princess Auto Stadium is currently the venue of Winnipeg’s CPL team, Valour FC, since 2019, as well as their CFL team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Another Game Coming Up For Both Teams
READ MORE: 2024 CANWNT Year Review: So Close, and Yet, So Far
The CANWNT/CANXNT and Haiti will play against each other again on Tuesday to finish off the international window. That game will take place at 7:30 pm ET at Saputo Stadium/Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec.
Photo Credit: CANWNT X Account on May 31, 2025.
