Canada's midfielder Desiree Scott (11) and Kadeisha Buchanan (20) celebrate. (John Woods/CP)
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Canadian Press
May 8, 2014, 10:15 PM
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WINNIPEG — Kadeisha Buchanan scored her first goal as a member
of the Canadian women’s national soccer team Thursday but they had to
settle for a 1-1 tie the United States.
Buchanan scored her goal with a header off a corner kick just before the 35-minute mark of the friendly, and for 40 minutes it looked like Canada might finally beat a team they last defeated in 2001.
The 18-year-old Toronto native only made her debut with the national team in January 2013 but has seen 12 starts with Lauren Sesselmann out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Buchanan also was fearless on defence, sliding balls away from rushing Americans throughout the first half as they tried to get to the Canadian goal.
Sydney Leroux tied the game just before the 78-minute mark for the U.S. when she kicked Canadian Rebecca Quinn’s crossing header into the corner past goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
McLeod had to make one big save early in the game off Heather O’Reilly and another in the second half off a header by U.S. veteran Abby Wambach.
Then the Canadian team had to block a free kick just past the 84-minute mark that could have put the Americans in the lead.
American keeper Hope Solo had her bid to tie the U.S. shutout record foiled by Buchanan.
The day before the game, Canadian coach John Herdman did his best to dampen expectations, given Canada’s record against the U.S.
“It’s a game that Canada won’t dominate,” he said.
“We’re not going to have 700 shots and 700 crosses, so the fans have got to be ready to really get behind us when we need (them).”
The crowd of 28,255 didn’t disappoint. The game was also blessed with cool but dry weather, after a forecast that threatened rain, and it was the second largest crowd ever to watch a women’s friendly in Canada.
Solo, who also played for the U.S. in the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, is just one away from tying Briana Scurry for the most shutouts in the American program’s history at 70.
Melissa Tancredi, who rejoined the Canadian team for the first time since she returned to school a couple of years ago to finish her chiropractic studies, got some playing time late in the second half.
Buchanan scored her goal with a header off a corner kick just before the 35-minute mark of the friendly, and for 40 minutes it looked like Canada might finally beat a team they last defeated in 2001.
The 18-year-old Toronto native only made her debut with the national team in January 2013 but has seen 12 starts with Lauren Sesselmann out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Buchanan also was fearless on defence, sliding balls away from rushing Americans throughout the first half as they tried to get to the Canadian goal.
Sydney Leroux tied the game just before the 78-minute mark for the U.S. when she kicked Canadian Rebecca Quinn’s crossing header into the corner past goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
McLeod had to make one big save early in the game off Heather O’Reilly and another in the second half off a header by U.S. veteran Abby Wambach.
Then the Canadian team had to block a free kick just past the 84-minute mark that could have put the Americans in the lead.
American keeper Hope Solo had her bid to tie the U.S. shutout record foiled by Buchanan.
The day before the game, Canadian coach John Herdman did his best to dampen expectations, given Canada’s record against the U.S.
“It’s a game that Canada won’t dominate,” he said.
“We’re not going to have 700 shots and 700 crosses, so the fans have got to be ready to really get behind us when we need (them).”
The crowd of 28,255 didn’t disappoint. The game was also blessed with cool but dry weather, after a forecast that threatened rain, and it was the second largest crowd ever to watch a women’s friendly in Canada.
Solo, who also played for the U.S. in the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, is just one away from tying Briana Scurry for the most shutouts in the American program’s history at 70.
Melissa Tancredi, who rejoined the Canadian team for the first time since she returned to school a couple of years ago to finish her chiropractic studies, got some playing time late in the second half.
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