Canada’s women’s World Cup team wins 2  – 0 against New Zealand

Canada tops New Zealand, qualifies for round of 16. Fleming, Prince provide offence in 2-0 win. Canada's Jessie Fleming scored her side's opening goal during the Women's World Cup Group E soccer match against New Zealand in Grenoble, France, on Saturday.

Jessie Fleming’s 48th minute tally and Nichelle Prince’s 79th minute goal powered the Canadians to another win in Group E, which is a two-horse race between today’s winning teams.

The breakthrough came in the 48th minute. A probing long ball found Prince down the left flank and the speedy forward outraced two defenders before squaring the ball for the 21-year-old Fleming to slot in her ninth goal in 68 appearances — and first at the World Cup.

Captain Christine Sinclair almost made it 2-0 soon after, but her redirect from in front went high. And Sinclair set up the 24-year-old Prince in the 72nd minute, only to have her header acrobatically steered away by goalkeeper Erin Nayler in a marvellous one-handed save

Prince made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, poking a rebound home from close-range after Sinclair's header hit the goalpost for the second time in the game. It was Prince's 11th goal for Canada and first at a World Cup.

Despite the assist, it was another frustrating evening for 36-year-old Sinclair who is chasing retired American Abby Wambach’s record of 184 international goals.

Canada is now unbeaten in 10 games in 2019 (7-0-3) in 2019, tied for its second-longest such streak. For New Zealand, in its fifth World Cup, the wait for a first tournament win continues.

Sinclair remained on 181 goals for Canada after nodding the ball against the bar in the first half, skying a shot from a precise low cross by the outstanding Janine Beckie early in the second and hitting the post before Prince’s goal

Canada and the Netherlands meet in Reims on June 20 to decide who will top the group.