Canada’s women’s national team scored first and carried a one-goal lead into the second half but in the final 15 minutes gave up the equalizer and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with number-one ranked United States Thursday in Winnipeg. Seven former Vancouver Whitecaps FC Women's players appeared in the match for the Red and White.
Kadeisha Buchanan gave the 28,255 fans on hand something to cheer about as she opened the scoring but Sydney Leroux tied the game late. The attendance was the second highest for a Canadian ‘A’ level women’s international played in Canada.
Buchanan’s first international goal came in the 36th minute and Canada, with three of their four defenders still eligible to play in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014 this summer, fought valiantly for their first win against the United States since March 11, 2001 when they picked up a 3-0 win.
Canada’s goal came when defender Rhian Wilkinson won a corner kick on the right side. Midfielder
Diana Matheson put in the perfect cross and Buchanan timed her jump perfectly and put in a thundering header past American goalkeeper Hope Solo before being mobbed by her Canadian teammates.
In what was a closely fought contest, Canada came under pressure from the Americans as the second half went along, and eventually Leroux got her second goal against Canada this year.
In the 77th minute, a cross came in from the right side and Canadian centre back Rebecca Quinn could only get a glancing header as she tried to clear it and the fortuitous bounce ended up on the left side and Leroux was by herself to put the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Christine Sinclair had a chance late as Canada sought to re-take the lead but her sliding left-footed effort went agonizingly wide of the post.
It won’t be long before Canada’s back in action on home soil as they host Germany June 18 at BC Place.
