CSA & Whitecaps FC
Canada's U-17 women's national team defeated Japan 2-1 in an international friendly in Sunrise, Florida, on Thursday morning.
Vancouver Whitecaps U-18 Prospects striker
Abigail Raymer
scored the winner with five minutes remaining at the Broward County Cricket Stadium. Jade Kovacevic gave Canada the lead before Mina Tanaka equalized for Japan.
The friendly was part of both country's preparations for this September's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. "Today's match required a disciplined performance from our team," Canadian U-17 women's team head coach Bryan Rosenfeld told CanadaSoccer.com. "Playing against a technically skilled team like Japan, as well as in the hot conditions, we needed to ensure that we were defensively solid. It is a positive win, but we still need to improve technically and tactically prior to the World Cup."
Thursday's friendly was part of a 10-day training camp that the 2010 CONCACAF U-17 champions took part in Sunrise, Florida. Rosenfeld's training camp squad also included Whitecaps Prospects midfielder Vanessa Kovacs, defender Abigail Phillips, and centre back
Nicole Setterlund
. Victoria, BC, native Ally Courtnall was also included in the 25-player group.
Canada will continue their World Cup preparations with a training camp in Toronto, Ontario, in early July.
