Soccer friendly

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This article was published 08/05/2014 (4443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CANADA VS. U.S

Tonight, Investors Group Field, 7 p.m. (soccer friendly)

Six players to watch

CHRISTINE SINCLAIR, Canada

Arguably the best female player on the planet and she’s got the numbers to prove it. She ranks third in all-time scoring, behind only Mia Hamm (U.S., 147 goals) and Abby Wambach (U.S, 158). Said this week her game is still growing, too.

ABBY WAMBACH, United States

The 33-year-old forward is still a dominant player, scoring twice against Korea DPR in the final match of the Algarve Cup on March 12 in Portugal, her 33rd two-goal game. She also has five hat tricks, one four-goal game and one five-goal game in her career. Wambach finished second in voting for the 2013 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year (she won in 2012). Worth noting: the Americans are 107-2-8 in games in which Wambach scores.

HOPE SOLO, United States

The American goalkeeper is one of the best in the sport and has been a regular with the national team since 2000. Her soccer resumé is gaudy — she is one shutout away from tying Briana Scurry for the most in U.S. history at 71 — and she’s drawn a lot of attention outside of the pitch for her appearance on Dancing with the Stars and being featured on the cover of the annual ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue.

DESIREE SCOTT, Canada

This isn’t just a shout-out to the local girl playing in front of her family and friends in Canada’s colours for the first time. Scott’s spirited, energetic play makes her the heartbeat for Canada and her nickname — ‘The Destroyer’ — wasn’t earned because she was the soccer equivalent of a Lady Byng Trophy candidate.

SYDNEY LEROUX, United States

The Vancouver product leads the Americans in scoring this year with five goals, including the lone marker in the U.S. win over Canada in Texas at the end of January. Her bust-out season with the U.S. came in 2012 when she scored 14 goals in 27 games, all as a substitute.

MELISSA TANCREDI, Canada

The 32-year-old forward will in Canada’s lineup for the first time since a 3-0 loss to the U.S. in Toronto last June. She scored four goals in six games for Canada in the 2012 Olympics and then took some time away from the game to complete a chiropractic program degree.

The lineups

CANADA

No. / Player / Pos

33 / Karina LeBlanc / GK

1 / Erin McLeod / GK

2 / Sura Yekka / D

3 / Rebecca Quinn / D

4 / Carmelina Moscato / D

5 / Robyn Gayle / D

6 / Kaylyn Kyle / M

7 / Rhian Wilkinson / D

8 / Diana Matheson / M

9 / Josée Bélanger / F

10 / Jessie Fleming / M

11 / Desiree Scott / M

12 / Christine Sinclair / F

13 / Sophie Schmidt / M

14 / Melissa Tancredi / F

15 / Nkem Ezurike / F

16 / Jonelle Filigno / F

17 / Brittany Baxter / M

19 / Adriana Leon / F

20 / Kadeisha Buchanan / D

22 / Ashley Lawrence / M

UNITED STATES

No. / Player / Pos

1 / Hope Solo / GK

21 / Jill Loyden/ GK

24 / Ashlyn Harris / GK

2 / Sydney Leroux / F

3 / Christie Rampone / D

4 / Becky Sauerbrunn / D

5 / Kelley O’Hara / D

6 / Whitney Engen / D

7 / Morgan Brian / M

8 / Amy Rodriguez / F

9 / Heather O’Reilly / M

10 / Carli Lloyd / M

11 / Ali Krieger / D

12 / Lauren Holiday / M

14 / Stephanie Cox / D

16 / Crystal Dunn / D

17 / Allie Long / M

19 / Nikki Marshall / D

20 / Abby Wambach / F

22 / Julie Johnston / M

23 / Christen Press / F

25 / Meghan Klingenberg / D