USA edge Canada on penalties

April 12, 2008

CSA & Whitecaps FC

Canada's women's national team had to settle for a second-place finish at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament after a penalty shoot-out defeat the USA.

After 108 minutes of goalless action between the two North American rivals, Carli Lloyd gave fellow Olympic qualifiers USA the lead. Canada then forced a penalty shoot-out to decide the tournament winner when Melissa Tancredi scored her fourth goal in as many games just before the end. In the shoot-out, USA goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart stopped Brittany Timko to secure a 6-5 win in Juarez, Mexico.

A goalless first half saw Canada strike the American woodwork, while captain Christine Sinclair also had a good chance. Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod then had to make an assured punch away in her box, as the US looked to gain control of the contest before the break.

McLeod had been in excellent form during the qualifying tournament, with her performances underlined by three top-class saves after halftime. Opportunities were then traded towards the end of 90 minutes, with Canada creating a great chance to win the final when Diana Matheson found Kara Lang in the American box, but the Vancouver Whitecaps striker put her shot wide of goal. Moments later, the US had a terrific chance of their own, but the crossbar stood in their way.

In extra time, McLeod had to stop American substitute Abby Wambach on 104 minutes before the US took the lead through a Lloyd free kick that broke the Canadian wall and squeezed past McLeod. The Americans then thought they had scored a second goal, but the play was called back for a foul.

That allowed Tancredi to head home Canada's equalizer from a Candace Chapman corner kick with less than two minutes left to play.

The 1-1 extra-time draw meant penalties were needed to decide it. With the shoot-out at 5-5, Heather O'Reilly put the Americans in the lead before Barnhart stopped Timko to give the US the win.

Despite the narrow defeat, Canadian head coach Even Pellerud was proud of his team's performance. "It was one of our best games that we have ever played against the United States," Pellerud told CanadaSoccer.com. "I really liked the morale of the team and the way we came back to tie the game. This was an international match of a very, very high standard."

In the other game on Saturday, host nation Mexico claimed third place with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica.

Canada (Whitecaps players in bold)
18-Erin McLeod; 4-Clare Rustad, 7-Rhian Wilkinson, 8-Diana Matheson (19-Alexandra Marton 100'), 9-Candace Chapman, 10-Martina Franko, 11-Randee Hermus (5-Robyn Gayle 46'), 12-Christine Sinclair (captain), 14-Melissa Tancredi, 15-Kara Lang, 16-Jonelle Filigno (17-Brittany Timko 70')

USA
1-Nicole Barnhart; 2-Rachel Marie Buehler, 3-Christine Rampone (captain), 5-Lindsay Ann Tarpley (9-Heather O’Reilly 62'), 6-Natasha Kai (20-Mary Abby Wambach 46'), 10-Kacey Dell White (16-Angela Hucles 80'), 11-Carli Lloyd, 12-Leslie Marie Osborne, 15-Kate Markgraf, 17-Lori Chalupny, 19-Amy Rodriguez

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