Canada to face China PR this Saturday

Canada’s women’s national team is looking forward to facing China PR in an international friendly match this Saturday 24 April. The Saturday match will be played at the Olympic Sports Center in Yongchuan District, Chingqong.



The Saturday night match (Saturday morning back home in Canada) kicks off at 19.35 local time (07.35 ET / 04.35 PT). Canadian fans can follow the match live via

www.twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN. For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.



“We have seen some good things this week,” said Canadian national head coach Carolina Morace. “We have many new players, so it (was) a good chance for our young players to get this experience.”



Canada is undefeated this year under coach Morace, highlighted by a 1:0 victory over New Zealand in the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup final. Canada actually won all five of its international matches from 20 February through 3 March in Europe. The winning streak helped Canada return to a top-10 spot on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking.



China PR, who ranks just two places and 10 points behind Canada on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, has posted four wins, one draw and three losses in 2010. The Saturday match will be China PR’s final international test before the AFC Championship / FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers from 19-30 May. In the group phase, China PR faces Korea Republic on 20 May, Vietnam on 22 May and Australia on 24 May.



Canada will have a longer road to its qualification phase for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. The 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup is expected to take place in late October and early November, with the schedule and venue yet to be announced. As for other international friendly matches, Canada plans to announce its 2010 international schedule with coach Morace on 11 May in Vancouver.



China PR in fact one of Canada’s oldest opponents. The two sides first met in a test FIFA competition on 1 June 1988, a 2:0 win for China PR. Overall, Canada has faced China PR 11 times and posted a record of one win, three draws and seven losses. The last two matches have ended in a draw, most recently the 1:1 draw at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Tianjin, China PR.



Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has won five-straight matches this 2010 season under coach Morace. The team is preparing for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup which will automatically qualify two teams to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and send a third team to a final playoff stage against Europe’s fifth-place team.