Sinclair leads young Canadian squad against United States

TORONTO Captain Christine Sinclair will see plenty of familiar faces when she leads Canada out against the top-ranked Americans in a two-game series starting next week.

The U.S. squad features five Portland teammates who helped Thorns skipper Sinclair hoist the NWSL trophy after their 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage on Oct. 14.

“An incredible group of girls,” Sinclair said of the Thorns after winning the championship.

Now Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, defender Emily Sonnett, midfielders Lindsey Horan and Allie Long and forward Tobin Heath are international rivals.

“I think for a lot of us (Canadians) playing in the NWSL now, we’ve become friends with them or teammates with them,” Sinclair said in an interview. “We play with them, against them every day.

“It creates an interesting dynamic. But once you put on that national team jersey, all that’s forgotten.”

Fifth-ranked Canada hosts the U.S. on Nov. 9 in Vancouver at B.C. Place Stadium before heading to San Jose for the Nov. 12 rematch.

The last time the Americans played at B.C. Place, they won the World Cup with a 52 victory over Japan before 53,341 on July 5, 2015.

Canada and the U.S. last met there in the championship game of the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament when the Americans won 4-0. Some six months later, the two North American rivals faced off in an Olympic semifinal thriller at Old Trafford with the U.S. prevailing 4-3 after extra time — despite a Sinclair hat trick.