Action from the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship final between Canada and the USA (white jersey) on February 21, 2016, in Houston, Texas, USA. (Photo: Mexsport)
VANCOUVER, Canada -- The Canada women's national team has finished ahead of the United States twice in major international competitions, capturing the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Championship title and earning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Yet, when it comes to head-to-head competition, the U.S. has prevailed more often than not with an all-time series leading 47W-6D-3L record.
Perhaps things will change for Canada this year, when it hosts the Americans in the first of a two-match series Thursday night at BC Place. The second encounter is set for November 12 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.
“Every time we play the U.S., it’s a battle, and we keep battling, but we just haven’t been able to get the results we want against this team,” said Canada head coach John Herdman in a pre-match press conference Wednesday.
The teams clashed in what is considered one of the best women's games ever at the 2012 London Olympics as the U.S. won a classic semifinal in extratime, 4-3.
“This rivalry is massive,” noted Canada striker Christine Sinclair, who had a hat-trick in that game. “You ask any Canadian about their memories of women’s football and it probably goes back to the Olympics in 2012 or maybe the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. I’ve met a lot of young girls who started to play after watching the semi-final in 2012.”
Since the turn of the decade, the Canadians have closed the gap, securing two draws and losing by only one goal four times. In the rivals’ last meeting, the U.S. registered a 2-0 victory at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship final in Houston, Texas.
Tobin Heath, who scored in that encounter, isn’t available for the current series due to an ankle injury she suffered in the National Women's Soccer League championship game last month.
