Canada arrives in Portland

Following Canada’s spirited 1:1 draw with USA to open their 2011 Women’s International Friendly Series, Canada has arrived in Portland, OR to begin preparations for the second and final match of the series. The two sides will meet in four days on Thursday 22 September at JELD-WEN Field for a 20.15 local kickoff (23.15 ET / 20.15).



Both teams will have nearly the same rosters, with just one change each. Canada has traveled with one less player as Chelsea Stewart has returned (as planned from the outset) to UCLA. USA has added Shannon Boxx, who was absent from the first match.



Both teams left Kansas City, MO on the Sunday afternoon. The morning was used for recovery sessions from the Saturday night match, with some Canadians taking to the pitch and others taking to the pool.



In Saturday’s 1:1 draw between Canada and USA, American Abby Wambach and Ancaster, ON’s Melissa Tancredi scored the goals. The dangerous Wambach has scored four goals against Canada in her career, all of them on American home soil with two of them on penalties. Tancredi, meanwhile, has scored three times against USA, with two in each of her last two matches against the Americans.



Canadian fans who wish to travel to Portland can purchase tickets via ussoccer.com. Fans can also watch the match via the American broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.



Both Canada and USA are in their early transition periods from this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup to next year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Both Canada and USA will take part in next January’s 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in Vancouver, BC (tickets to all matches are available via Ticketmaster.ca / 1.855.985.5000).



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will have three days of training in Portland before the Thursday match. This will be Canada’s first match in Portland since the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 semi-final in October 2003.