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LAGOS, Portugal — Captain Christine Sinclair rescued Canada with an 81st-minute penalty in a 1-0 win over Scotland at the Algarve Cup on Friday.

It was her 179th career international goal, moving Sinclair within five of tying retired American Abby Wambach’s world record of 184.

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The fifth-ranked Canadians tied No. 22 Iceland 0-0 on Wednesday at the women’s soccer tournament. And it looked like another scoreless draw Friday against the 20th-ranked Scots until Chloe Arthur took down Canadian Ashley Lawrence as she dribbled her way into the penalty box.

Sinclair, a 35-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., playing her 277th international, stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball past a diving Lee Alexander for the win at the Estadio Municipal de Lagos.

“I saw the ‘keeper move early and had half the net to shoot at — and hopefully I won’t miss that,” said Sinclair. “What gives me confidence is knowing that I’m prepared. I practise penalty shots at the end of every training session, so in the moment you know you’ve done everything you can to be ready.”