Gilles' goal helps CanWNT claim 1st win under Stoney at Pinatar Cup

Vanessa Gilles and Adriana Leon scored to lift Canada's women's national soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Mexico at the Pinatar Cup on Saturday, giving Casey Stoney her first win as head coach.

Stoney began her tenure on the Canadian bench with a 1-1 draw against China in the opening match of the invitational tournament in Murcia, Spain, earlier this week. She made seven changes to the lineup that started that stalemate, with only Gilles, defender Gabrielle Carle, midfielder Julia Grosso, and forward Janine Sonis (formerly Beckie) retaining their places in the XI.

Gilles, celebrating her 50th cap, delivered what proved to be the eventual match-winning goal, heading the ball home from a corner kick in the 51st minute. The imposing center-back, one of the vocal leaders of the national team, has found the net four times in her last eight games for her country.

Leon sealed the result in the 89th minute with an open-net tap-in to record her 42nd international goal in 123 appearances.

Stoney's team struggled initially to break down a physical Mexican side but found more space to operate and create chances after Mexico defender Annia Mejia was shown a second yellow card in the 40th minute.

Mejia picked up her first booking for an early studs-up tackle on Olivia Smith. She was lucky to avoid a second yellow in the 35th minute after a heavy collision with Jordyn Huitema but was ultimately sent off shortly after when she chopped Leon down with a tackle from behind.

Canada is now 24-2-3 all time against Mexico, which sits 31st in the FIFA rankings, good enough for third-best among CONCACAF nations.

Canada, ranked No. 6 in the world, will close out its three-match run at the Pinatar Cup on Tuesday against Taiwan.