USWNT plays Canada to 1-1 draw in Vancouver to open two-game set

VANCOUVER, British Colombia (Via U.S. Soccer) – In another bruising edition of a regional rivalry, the U.S. Women’s National Team played Canada to a 1-1 draw in front of a sellout crowd of 28,017 fans at BC Place.

A highly competitive first half saw Canada pressure the U.S. all over the field, but it was the USA that had the first dangerous chance of the night when Megan Rapinoe’s roller from the left side of the penalty area bounced off the inside of the right post, across the face of goal and out. Later in the half, the USA began to find its rhythm and Alex Morgan took advantage of a poor Canada clearance in their area to knock a half-volley past Canada ‘keeper Stephanie Labbé and make it 1-0 in the 31st minute.

In the 39th minute, Lindsey Horan almost doubled the U.S. lead with a free kick headed towards the upper netting, but her attempt was pushed out by Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé to preserve the one-goal margin.

Canada came out with a purpose in the second half and its pressure produced an equalizer after a wild scramble in front of the U.S. goal in the 57th minute as substitute Adrianna Leon poked home a Christine Sinclair cross.

Morgan had a chance to take the lead for the U.S. in the 76th minute, but her two attempts right in front of the goal were blocked by Janine Beckie as both teams fought to a tough 1-1 stalemate.

Next, the U.S. WNT will conclude its 2017 schedule with the second match of the two-game set vs. Canada on Sunday, Nov. 12 (6 p.m. PT, FS1) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Alex Morgan (Casey Short), 31st minute: Casey Short did well to take advantage of some poor clearances by Canada. Posted right outside their 18-yard box, she kept a U.S. attack alive by ultimately heading the ball to Alex Morgan, who controlled it and finished on the half-volley with her right foot to sneak the ball past the outstretched arm of Stephanie Labbé and into the lower right corner. USA 1, CAN 0. GOAL.

CAN – Adriana Leon (Christine Sinclair), 57th minute: A Rebecca Quinn shot that bounced off the cross bar was recycled by Sinclair on the left post, who kept the ball in play and sent a cross back across the six-yard box to the far side where Leon awaited to tap in for the equalizer. USA 1, CAN 1. FINAL

Additional Notes:

• Alex Morgan made her 13th appearance of 2017 and sixth start. She scored her sixth goal of 2017, which leads the team. Morgan has scored six goals in her last six games for the WNT.Now with 79 goals in her career, Morgan is in sole possession of seventh place on the all-time scoring list for the WNT.
• Morgan has now scored seven goals against Canada in her career, her second most against any nation. She’s score eight against Japan.
• Casey Short made her 13th start of this year and 14th overall appearance. She earned her first career assist today on Morgan’s goal in what was her 18th career cap. She made her debut for the USA 13 months ago on Oct. 19, 2016.
• Captaining the USA tonight was Becky Sauerbrunn, who made her 15th start and appearance of the year. She is one of only two players – Samantha Mewis being the other – to feature in every starting lineup this year. She has played the most minutes of any player on the team in 2017 at 1,260.
• Alyssa Naeher earned her 22nd cap tonight. She is the ninth goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn 20 or more caps.
• Kelley O’Hara made her 10th start in her 12th appearance this year. She started and captained the USA on Sept. 15 against New Zealand to earn her 100th cap, becoming the 36th player in U.S. WNT history to play 100 or more times for her country.
• Abby Dahlkemper reached double-digit caps on Oct. 19 and made her 12th career appearance today in what was her ninth career start. The 2017 NWSL Defender of the Year also made her debut for the U.S. on Oct. 19, 2016, against Switzerland in Utah, and earned her first start against Norway on June 11, playing all 90 minutes to help the U.S. defense claim a shutout in Sandefjord.
• Samantha Mewis earned her 34th cap today. Alongside Sauerbrunn, she is the only other player to be in the starting lineup of every game the WNT has played in 2017. She has played 1,167 minutes so far in 2017, the most besides Sauerbrunn.
• Julie Ertz earned her 56th cap tonight. Ertz, who is playing as defensive midfielder, has excelled at the role, and has found the back of the net five times this year. She most recently scored against Korea Republic on Oct. 22 in Cary, North Carolina. Ertz has 13 career goals for the WNT, all originating on or from set pieces.
• Lindsey Horan, who scored the game-winning goal for the Portland Thorns, where she plays with Canada captain Christine Sinclair, in the 2017 NWSL Championship game, made her 12th appearance of the year for the USA. She most recently scored for the U.S. on Sept. 19 against New Zealand in Cincinnati. Tonight was her fifth start of 2017.
• Lynn Williams made her fourth start and 10th appearance this year. She has four career goals, with her latest coming on Oct. 22 in Cary against Korea Republic.
• Megan Rapinoe made her seventh start of the year tonight in her 11th appearance. Against Australia on July 27 at the Tournament of Nations, she got her first start since the 2016 Olympics and played her first 90 minutes since 2015. She got the start against Brazil in the next match and had a spectacular game, scoring the goal that tied the game at 3-3, earning two assists, and playing a part in the game-winning goal as well. Her goal against Brazil was her first since she scored twice in the opening game of the 2015 WWC against Australia. She has scored three goals in 2017. She has 34 career goals, pulling her to within one goal of tying April Heinrichs and Sydney Leroux for 15th on the all-time goals list.
• Ellis made five of six possible substitutions tonight: Carli Lloyd for Mewis in the 65th, Taylor Smith for Short in the 66th, Christen Press for Rapinoe in the 66th, Andi Sullivan for Ertz in the 74th and Allie Long for Williams in the 87th minute.
• Not dressing for this match: D Chioma Ubogagu, G Adrianna Franch, G Jane Campbell, D Sofia Huerta.

– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Canada
Date: Nov. 9, 2017
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: BC Place; Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT
Attendance: 28,017 (sellout)
Weather: Indoors

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F 
USA                          1 0 1 
CAN                          0 1 1

USA – Alex Morgan (Casey Short)                    31st minute
CAN – Adrianna Leon (Christine Sinclair)         56

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O’Hara, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 14-Casey Short (22-Taylor Smith, 66); 8-Julie Ertz (6-Andi Sullivan, 74), 9-Lindsey Horan, 3-Samantha Mewis (10-Carli Lloyd, 65); 12-Lynn Williams (20-Allie Long, 87), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe (23-Christen Press, 66)
Subs not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris, 16-Emily Sonnett
Head coach: Jill Ellis

CAN: 1-Stephanie Labbe; 2-Allysha Chapman, 4-Shelina Zadorsky, 5-Rebecca Quinn, 6-Deanne Rose (19-Adrianna Leon, 31), 10- Ashley Lawrence, 11-Desiree Scott, 12-Christine Sinclair (capt.), 15-Nichelle Prince (20-Maegan Kelly, 71), 16-Janine Beckie (9-Jordyn Huitema, 90), 17-Jessie Fleming
Subs not used: 18-Sabrina D’Angelo, 21-Kailen Sheridan, 14-Jayde Riviere, 22-Lindsay Agnew, 23-Julia Grosso, 24-Ariel Young
Head coach: John Herdman

Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 11 / 19
Shots on Goal: 4 / 8
Saves: 7 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 14
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Janine Beckie (caution)          59th minute
CAN – Maegan Kelly (caution)           79

Officials: 
Referee: Marianela Araya Cruz (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Elizabeth Aguilar (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Kimberly Moreira (CRC)
4th Official: Melissa Perez (PAN)

Woman of the Match: Becky Sauerbrunn