Canadian women keen for another kick at U.S.

National soccer team girds for a rematch after drawing with the world’s No. 1 squad

Adriana Leon needed another look at the signature moment of her return to the Canadian women’s national team.

The striker from Mississauga, Ont., scored in the second half Thursday as Canada tied the United States 1-1 in a soccer friendly.

The Canadians equalized in the 57th minute on a wild sequence following a corner where Rebecca Quinn’s shot off the crossbar rebounded to captain Christine Sinclair, who hooked the ball toward goal for Leon to help over the line and send the crowd of 28,017 at B.C. Place Stadium into a frenzy.

“It felt amazing,” said the 25-yearold. “I had to watch the replay on my phone because I blacked out a bit.”

The game was the opener of a two-game series between the topranked Americans and No. 5 Canada, with the rematch set for Sunday in San Jose, Calif. The Canadians are now 3-47-7 all-time against the U.S., with their last victory coming all the way back on March 11, 2001.

Leon, who hadn’t played for the national team since the 2015 World Cup, was left off the bronze-medalwinning Canadian side at the Rio Olympics, but has resurrected her career by first going to Europe and then spending this past season with the NWSL’s Boston Breakers.

“From the World Cup and then not making the Olympic team, I think that could have destroyed a lot of players,” said Sinclair, who earned her 260th cap. “She’s mentally so strong and she never gave up.”

Leon, who scored her eighth goal for Canada in her 43rd appearance, subbed on for Deanne Rose in the first half moments after the U.S. went ahead on Alex Morgan’s opener in the 31st minute.

The Canadian striker injected pace and energy into a team that looked a little timid in the stretch before the Americans went in front.

“That was exactly my job — come on the field and change the game,” said Leon. “I just worked my butt off and did what I could.”

Canadian head coach John Herdman said he’s been impressed with Leon’s drive to return to the national team setup.

“She’s been very resilient,” said the Englishman, who improved to 0-7-3 against the U.S. since taking over in 2011. “She’s let her career tell her story. She’s fought and scrapped to make sure she hits the standards required for this level.”

Both Herdman and U.S. counterpart Jill Ellis were forced to call up a number of young players to their squads with the two-game series falling outside the international window.

The Americans came in 41-5-4 over their last 50 matches, and were riding a six-game winning streak where they had outscored the opposition 24-5. Canada is 0-27-6 against the Americans since that victory back in 2001.

“A great battle,” Ellis said of Thursday. “This is probably the biggest game many of our players have had. We play a lot of home games, and until you come into an environment like this ... it tests you.”

The Canadian Press

It felt amazing. I had to watch the replay on my phone because I blacked out a bit.