Canadian women return to clubs after week in Toronto

Canada’s women’s national-team players have returned to their respective clubs after a week of training in Toronto, ON under head coach Carolina Morace. The 21 players were all in uniform last night at BMO Field for the international friendly match against USA. The Canadian team fell 0:4 to the world’s number-one ranked and defending-Olympic champion USA.



“I’d rather lose 4-0 against a team of this calibre than to win 3-0 against an easy opponent,” said Morace after the match. “I don’t think there was a four-goal difference [between the teams].… I don’t think the score was indicative of the play.”



Canada’s lineup included six players from Women’s Professional Soccer, five of which were in the starting lineup. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and defender Martina Franko return to Los Angeles Sol, defender Candace Chapman returns to Boston Breakers, midfielder Kelly Parker returns to Sky Blue FC, forward and captain Christine Sinclair returns to FC Gold Pride, and forward Melissa Tancredi returns to St. Louis Athletica. Tancredi was a substitute in the second half after Morace switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3 formation.



Canada’s players are also returning to Europe, including three to Pitea in Sweden (Kaylyn Kyle, Stephanie Labbe and Brittany Timko) and two to Strommen in Norway (Diana Matheson and Rhian Wilkinson).



The remaining 10 players are returning to clubs in Canada and USA.



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, has one of the best women’s football programs in the world. Just last year, the team reached the quarter-final stage at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. In February, the team began a new era under the direction of new head coach Carolina Morace. So far, the team has a record of two wins, one draw and two losses in 2009.