Four teams to compete at Yongchuan Cup

Canada is one of four teams competing in this year’s Yongchuan Cup, the Four-Nation Women’s Tournament in the Yongchuan District of Chongqing, China PR. Canada, Sweden, USA and host China PR will play a six-match series, with each team facing their three opponents once in the round-robin format. There is no championship match, so the team with the most points will win the Yongchuan Cup.



Canada kicks off its tournament on 21 January against host China PR. The Canada-China PR match kicks off at 18.35 local (05.35 ET / 02.35 PT). Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, then faces USA on 23 January and then Sweden on 25 January.



All six matches will be played at the Olympic Sports Center in Yongchuan. The China PR matches will be broadcast by CCTV-5 while the three other matches will be broadcast on the CCTV Sports Channel. Fans can also follow the Canada matches via the live twitter feed at twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN.



This is of course the first international competition of the year for all four nations after a substantial winter break. Canada played its last match of 2010 on 19 December in Brazil; the team then regrouped in Yongchuan on 13 January. It is a big year for three of the nations in the competition as Canada, Sweden and USA are all making early preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011.



Coach Morace is expected to feature as much of her lineup as possible in Canada’s three matches. Canada brought 24 players, including three goalkeepers. Of note, goalkeeper Erin McLeod and defender Melanie Booth are returning from injury. McLeod has gone the longest since her last match for Canada, suiting up on 24 April 2010 against China PR in Yongchuan.



Two of Morace’s players hope to make their international debut. Fullback Christine Exeter and midfielder Taylor Patterson are both taking part in their first national “A” camps.



Three points will be awarded for a victory and one point for a draw.