Canada face anxious wait on skipper Sinclair

Posted Monday, June 27, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

BERLIN (AFP) - Canada face a nervous wait to see if captain Christine Sinclair can continue to lead her country at the women's World Cup after the veteran striker broke her nose in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Germany.

First-half goals by midfielders Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino da Mbabi put the hosts in control before Sinclair, who broke her nose in the first half, slotted home a late free-kick for the guests on 82 minutes.

The 28-year-old scored her 117th goal on her 160th international appearance at Berlin's Olympic Stadium and could easily have scored another after squandering a golden chance in the opening minutes.

Having broken her nose in an early tussle with the German defence, Sinclair insisted on finishing the match and was taken to hospital in Berlin immediately after the final whistle.

Canada coach Carolina Morace paid tribute to her captain's plucky display and is hoping she will be fit for the next Group A game against France in Bochum on Thursday and the game with Nigeria in Dresden on July 5.

"She's gone to the hospital now and she may have to play with a mask, so we hope she can play on," said the Italian.

"She is strong and the doctors told her to come off, but she refused, she didn't want to give up.

"Christine is a fantastic player and she took her chance well. The doctors had told me the nose was broken, but she insisted on playing on.

"She knows what she can do and it would have been hard to take her off with her experience."