CanWNT is heading back to the World Cup after a tough grueling 1-0 win over Panama in their second group stage match at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship.

CanWNT control play but can't finish

Five minutes into the first half Canada looked in control getting some early chances but nothing on target yet despite getting the first corner and free-kick of the match.

Adriana Leon registered Canada's first shot on target in the 15th minute when she powered one from just inside the box but it went right into the hands of the Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey.

Panama earned their first shot attempt in the 20th minute when Laurie Bautista fired a long shot that went just over the net forcing Sabrina D'Angelo to push the ball over the net.

Janine Beckie had a chance at goal in the 25th minute but her cross went right into the hands of Bailey to deny the Canadian. Two minutes later Nichelle Prince was taken down in the box but the offside flag went up negating a penalty.

VAR decided to have a look and upon further review which took quite a while no penalty was awarded. Canada earned another free kick in the 32nd minute but the ball deflected into Bailey who was able to recover the ball.

Leon tested Bailey again in the 34th minute but again another cross went right into her hands. Panama earned a free kick in the 38th minute but the shot from Marta Cox bounced right into the hands of D'Angelo.

Prince almost got one into the back of the net in the 42nd minute but the ball deflected off her foot and went out. After five minutes of added time, both teams went to the locker room deadlocked at zero.

CanWNT hang on to clinch a World Cup berth

Bev Priestman started the second half by making two changes bringing Cloe Lacasse and Jayde Riviere for Cristine Sinclair and Prince and right off the hop Leon tested Bailey with a shot on target but the keeper was able to make a big diving save.

10 minutes into the second half we saw much of the same from the first as Canada was again controlling play and dominating in possession but still unable to find the back of the net.

Priestman made two more changes in the 57th minute bringing in Jordan Huitema and Quinn for Desiree Scott and Leon. Julia Gross finally broke through for Canada in the 65th minute with a superb dribble and was able to beat Bailey with a  quick shot.

A bit of a scary moment in the 67th minute as Lacasse made contact with Bailey in the box and went down due to a mishap but she was able to get up on her own power.

Priestman made her final change in the 74th minute taking out Grosso and replacing her with Deanne Rose. Canada spent the rest of the game in Panama's end looking to double their lead as they continued to control the majority of play.

After six minutes of added time, the final whistle blew and the CanWNT had booked their spot in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

A happy but frustrated Bev Priestman

While Bev Priestman was happy with getting the job done she mentioned a lot of frustration with the way the game turned out.

"I think it's something you can scoff at, people dream about it for a life time and it's the biggest trophy on the planet and something that Canada has yet to conquer yet it meant everything for us to qualify but I am overly frustrated with the game but at the end of the day we won and were in the World Cup."

Frustration the consensus amongst the players

Janine Beckie who has been a leader and one of Canada's veterans on the team was again happy they got it done but frustrated with the way it happened.

"We are super happy to be back in a World Cup, we had that expectation and that was the goal and despite the way, we won that was the result."

Christine Sinclair echoed her coach's words when asked about her assessment of the game tonight.

"We were frustrated tonight and they did a wonderful job of not playing football and they did anything to wind down the clock and we stuck to our process and Julia buried it."

Sinclair was asked about expectations and what this means for Canadian soccer in a year where both the men's and women's teams will be playing for a World Cup.

"It's our women's team, it's our standard, we go to World Cup, we go to Olympic games and that's how we roll and it's an exciting time for soccer in Canada and hopefully we can continue that for the rest of the tournament."

The CanWNT will wrap up their group stage on Monday against Costa Rica, and a win would mean they win the group.