WINNIPEG — Adriana Leon scored twice to lead Canada to a 4-1 victory over Haiti in a friendly on Saturday to help Canadian midfielder Desiree Scott celebrate her last hurrah in international play.
Leon scored in the seventh and ninth minutes to give Canada an early 2-0 lead before 9,211 raucous fans at Princess Auto Stadium.
“We were off to a great start and today was all about celebrating Desi, so we wanted to put in a good performance, which I thought we did through the 90 minutes, and that one was for Desi,” Leon said.
“Desi’s so incredible, we’re going to miss her so much,” Leon added. “She’s been such a force for this team for so long. It feels like an end of an era almost and we’re going to miss her deeply.”
Scott, 37, took to the international pitch for the last time on Saturday — her 188th cap. The Winnipeg native entered the field after the rest of her team had taken their position to a rousing, standing ovation. In a pre-game ceremony, the Winnipegger was presented with a bouquet of flowers and custom-framed jersey of her No. 11.
A message on the scoreboard read: “FROM THE HEART OF WINNIPEG TO THE WORLD STAGE.”
After the match, Scott and her teammates walked around the entire field, waving and blowing kisses to the supportive crowd.
“This day was absolutely incredible,” said Scott, known as 'The Destroyer.’ “I got a few days in with the girls in camp. They showered me with love and gave me all the flowers. I couldn’t have asked for a better time here in Winnipeg with the international team for my final match.
“I was anxious. I didn’t sleep very well last night. I had the nerves again. I was like, ‘It’s 188 (caps) girl, you’re good.’ But I still had the nerves, I got out there and made a few Destroyer tackles and settled into the game and enjoyed my time, definitely.”
Scott was subbed out in the 55th minute to another standing ovation.
“For me, it was take a minute for it to soak in — my hometown, Canadian jerseys, Scott jerseys,” she said. “Just like a feeling of true gratefulness and pride for having this jersey for so long and just thankful to everyone who supported me. It was a wonderful moment.
“I’ve been so lucky, I’ve had some great moments, especially this last week building up to everything. This one’s one for the books, though, definitely.”
Janine Sonis assisted on all four goals scored — the third by defender Shelina Zadorsky and a header by forward Olivia Smith.
Scott is the last player from the 2012 Olympic team to retire. She won gold at the 2020 Olympics, after Olympic bronze in 2016 and 2012 — one of only three players to win three straight Olympic medals, along with Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt.
Scott also helped Canada win the CONCACAF championship in 2010, represented Canada at three World Cups (2011, 2015 in Canada, and 2019), and won Pan Am Gold in 2011.
The five-foot-three dynamo was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2022. The 2012 team was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019.
“I think we were super clear as a team that today was all about Desi and what she’s done for the game and what she’s done for this team,” said Canada assistant coach Natalie Henderson. “We wanted to give her the best sendoff possible, so it was a very good way to start the game and get that sendoff going.
"We were really happy with how we started. We know there’s bit that we could tidy up, which we will work on. But today was all about Desi. It was incredible and the sendoff that we gave her was nothing short of what she deserves, and hopefully, we gave her the credit that she deserves as well.”
Batcheba Louis scored Haiti’s only goal.
“We knew before the game that it would be a special day for you (Canada),” said Haiti coach Malo Quignette. “She’s a legend, she deserves this type of event.”
Scott played her final international match on the same campus she set records for most career points (56) and assists (31) for the University of Manitoba Bisons. She was named Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2005, a two-time conference all-star and an All-Canadian in 2009. Scott was inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2019.
Canada will host Haiti in a second friendly in Montreal on June 3.
Meanwhile, Scott will continue to play club football for Ottawa Rapid FC of the Northern Super League.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025.
Jim Bender, The Canadian Press
