Canada U-17 Women’s Team Dominates Zambia 6-0 to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals
Casey Stoney’s Canadian women’s national team has struggled to score goals. Goals haven’t been a problem for Canada’s U17 women.
Canada is through to the quarter-finals at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after dismantling Zambia 6–0 on Wednesday in Morocco, continuing a ruthless scoring run that now sits at 18–2 across four straight wins at the tournament.
Daniela Feria-Estrada scored twice, while Melisa Kekic, Mya Angus, Chloe Taylor and Amy Medley added singles at the Football Academy Mohammed VI. The victory sets up a high-profile quarterfinal clash with Brazil — who beat China 3–0 earlier in the day — with the winner to face either defending champion North Korea or 2014 winner Japan in the semifinal.
Canada was in control from the 13th minute onward as Olivia Chisholm released Kekic in transition for the opener. Feria-Estrada doubled the lead on the half-hour before Angus produced the goal of the night — a looping left-footed strike from distance in the 39th minute that dropped perfectly into the top corner.
It could have been even worse for Zambia early in the second half after substitute Julia Amireh won a penalty. Kekic missed wide in the 60th minute — a rare blemish on an otherwise dominant Canadian performance. The match featured multiple VAR reviews, including Zambia unsuccessfully challenging the penalty decision.
Chloe Taylor made it 4–0 with a header off a corner in the 80th minute, Medley struck five minutes later from a clever slip pass by Amireh, and Feria-Estrada finished it off with a beautifully placed free kick in stoppage time.
Canada outshot Zambia 12–10 (9–5 on target) despite lengthy first-half stoppages due to injuries. Interim head coach Jen Herst made one lineup change, bringing in Feria-Estrada for Amireh. Canada was without suspended forward Reed Tingley, sent off against France in the group finale.
This is Canada’s fourth all-time trip to the U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals — and their most convincing. Their best finish was fourth in 2018. Brazil now awaits.
