Canada opens even with USA in WNT series

For more information on this fixture, please read the Canada-USA match report.



Canada and USA have opened a two-match Women’s International Friendly series tied following a 1:1 draw on Saturday 17 September. Abby Wambach scored on a penalty before Melissa Tancredi equalised for Canada in a match that could have gone either way near the end. The Canadian combination of Chelsea Stewart and Lauren Sesselmann nearly created the winner in the 90th minute.



The opening match of the series was played in front of 16,191 fans at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, KS. Both sides will conclude the series in five days on 22 September in Portland, OR.



“The team had been through a tough time, so part of what they wanted to achieve tonight was to put things right as a team,” said new Canadian coach John Herdman. “It wasn’t about winning football matches, it was something a bit deeper than the result. We knew from them stepping onto the pitch that they were going to step forward.”



The 17 September match served as a re-start for Canada and USA following the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 in June and July. Canada did not escape a tough group phase while USA lasted until silver medals were handed out at the championship final. The two CONCACAF nations are now in their early preparations for the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying which takes place in Vancouver in January.



With the draw, Canada posted its first point against USA since April 2008. Canada has a draw and a loss against USA in 2011, following a 1:2 loss in January. Goalscorer Tancredi has scored in both matches against USA this season.