Matheson has milestone in her sights

It has been more than 15 years since a teenage Diana Matheson made her senior soccer debut for Canada, sent on in the 78th minute by then-coach Even Pellerud in a 1-0 loss to Norway at the 2003 Algarve Cup.

“I think Even was yelling instructions at me as I ran on the field. But I was too excited and did not hear a word,” she said. “And then we lost the game, so everyone was pretty subdued on the bus after.”

Now 34, the Utah Royals midfielder is four caps away from 200. Depending on squad rotation, she could reach the milestone at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which serves as a World Cup qualifier for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The tournament opens Thursday in Cary, N.C., where Trinidad and Tobago faces Panama and the top-ranked U.S. meets Mexico. Fifth-ranked Canada opens Friday against No. 64 Jamaica in Edinburg, Texas. The Canadian women then play No. 88 Cuba Monday and No. 34 Costa Rica Oct. 11.

Matheson, who missed the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League season after tearing the ACL in her left knee while training with Canada, is healthy and raring to go. Matheson injured the same knee before the 2015 World Cup, but still made the Canadian roster. She also underwent surgery in late 2011. The recovery time was longer than expected, but she made the 2012 Olympics, scoring the stoppage-time goal that beat France in the bronze-medal match. “I think we’re just excited to play games at this point,” said the Oakville, Ont. native.

The group winner will cross over to face the runner-up in the other group, meaning Canada will face Mexico if the rankings hold. The Canadians are 10-0-2 against No. 24 Mexico since a 2-1 loss in 2004 that denied the Canadians a berth in the Athens Olympics.