May 31, 2025
Canada’s Adriana Leon leads Canada over Haiti with brace in Winnipeg
Canada and Haiti faced off in Winnipeg in a match that was also the last hurrah for Canadian midfielder Desiree Scott, who is hanging up her boots following a great international career with the Canadian women’s national team – and she did so in her home town.
Smith, 37, earned her 188th and final cap in a dominant match that saw her team shine all over the pitch. Smith was the last player to walk out onto the pitch, following a pre-game ceremony celebrating her career, that was beautifully capped off with the presentation of a framed jersey and a bouquet of flowers. As Smith walked out for her final team Canada appearance, a raucous standing ovation erupted. A fitting salute to a fine career.
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On the pitch, it was Adriana Leon that made the biggest impact, as she put her team ahead early when she scored her first of two markers at just the seventh minute of the game. Janine Sonis sent a long-range missile of a cross from the foul line into the far side of the box, where Leon caught the ball and had enough time to slow it down, and pick her spot before firing a bomb into the upper netting of the goal.
Two minutes later, Leon added her second goal of the game, and it was Sonis again who was the key to the goal. Sonis ran the ball up towards the arc of the box, feeding a silky smooth pass to the same spot Leon had scored from just two minutes prior, and again, Leon had ample time to slow the play and pick her spot, blasting a rocket just under the crossbar. Like on the first goal, Haitian goalkeeper Kaina Cesar Pietrus had no chance of getting to the ball.
Canada were up by two goals less than ten minutes into the match.
Sonis sent a supreme cross to the opposite side of the pitch, almost identical to the one she had sent to Leon for Canada’s first goal, only from the opposite side, this time finding defender Shelina Zadorsky who simply had to tap a volley high into the gapping goal.
In the 55th minute, the more than nine thousand on hand once again gave a roaring standing ovation to their hometown hero Desiree Scott, as she was substituted out of the game and out of her international career. Smith leaves behind one of the greatest legacies in Canada soccer history, and a storied international career.
Batcheba Louis scored to bring Haiti back within two, but it was to be Haiti’s only goal of the game.
Sonis wasn’t finished yet, this time attempting a shot from in close that was blocked by Haitian defender Jennyfer Limage. Sonis caught the rebound and crossed it over the box to forward Olivia Smith, who jumped into the header, slamming the ball into the goal.
Sonis assisted on all four of Canada’s goals in Winnipeg.
“This day was absolutely incredible,” said Scott, known as ‘The Destroyer.’ “I got a few days in with the girls in camp. They showered me with love and gave me all the flowers. I couldn’t have asked for a better time here in Winnipeg with the international team for my final match.
“I was anxious. I didn’t sleep very well last night. I had the nerves again. I was like, ‘It’s 188 caps girl, you’re good.’ But I still had the nerves, I got out there and made a few Destroyer tackles and settled into the game and enjoyed my time, definitely.”
While Smith’s time on the international stage comes to an end, she will continue to play for the Ottawa Rapid FC of the NSL.
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“Desi’s so incredible, we’re going to miss her so much,” Leon added. “She’s been such a force for this team for so long. It feels like an end of an era almost and we’re going to miss her deeply.”
The two nations will square off again in four days time in Montreal at Stade Saputo, home to CF Montreal of the MLS, where tickets are selling fast.
