“It’s a derby”: Canada, USA in Kansas

Canada will a face familiar foe this Saturday 17 September when it faces USA in a Women’s International Friendly match in Kansas City, KS. The two CONCACAF rivals will meet at Livestrong Sporting Park for at 18.00 local kickoff (19.00 ET / 16.00 PT).



A live matchcast will be available via Canada Soccer’s twitter account at www.twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN. Canadian fans in USA can also watch the match on Fox Soccer. The Saturday friendly is the first of two matches between Canada and USA, with the second match scheduled five days later for 22 September in Portland, OR.



“It is a derby, so it is always a massive match,” said Canadian head coach John Herdman, who will be making his Canadian coaching debut on Saturday. “It is a good place for this team to start. The players will have to roll up their sleeves to play the world’s number one team.”



Both teams are making their international re-starts following the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Canada made its fifth appearance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, but did not escape a tough group that featured three of the world’s six confederation champions. USA was the last team to qualify for Germany 2011, but lasted all the way through to championship final before losing to Japan on kicks from the penalty mark.



Following a 10-week break, over which time many players either returned to their clubs or joined new ones, Canada made its re-start this week under the stewardship of newly-hired coach John Herdman. The team will use these first two matches as part of the early preparations for January’s 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, BC.



“The team has been wonderful,” said Herdman. “I have been impressed with the qualities and personalities of the players. They have responded very well.”



Canada has faced USA numerous times in its history, dating back to the Canadian team’s first international season in 1986 (a win and a loss). USA holds the upper edge in the contests, including a 2:1 result after extra time at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. The two sides have since played four times, but not in an official FIFA or CONCACAF competition.



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has 22 players available for the match. Fifteen of those players are returning from Germany 2011, with the exception being those players who had extended club seasons, have started college seasons, or are out with injuries. Amongst the younger players, Justine Bernier, Tina Romagnuolo, Jaclyn Sawicki and Lauren Sesselmann are hoping to make their first appearance for Canada in either Kansas City or Portland.