Canada, Japan draw in women's soccer friendly

[CoachRich]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2007/08/30/canada-japan-soccer.html

Canada, Japan draw in women's soccer friendly

Last Updated: Thursday, August 30, 2007 | 12:58 PM ET

CBC Sports

The Canadian women's soccer team tied Japan 0-0 Thursday in Tokyo in its final tune-up before next month's FIFA Women's World Cup.

Canada had the bulk of the chances in the match, but couldn't convert. Veteran goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C., recorded the shutout.

Kara Lang of Canada, left, and Kyoko Yano of Japan battle for the ball during a women's international friendly match between the two countries Aug. 30 in Tokyo. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

(Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) Canadian head coach Even Pellerud and his 21-player squad travel to Singapore Friday for a brief training camp before arriving in China next week.

The fifth edition of FIFA's Women's World Cup takes place in China from Sept. 10-30. The 16-team field is divided into four groups:

Group A: Germany, Japan, England and Argentina.

Group B: United States, North Korea, Sweden and Nigeria.

Group C: Norway, Canada, Australia and Ghana.

Group D: China, Brazil, Denmark and New Zealand.

The top two teams in each group advance to the second round.

The Canadian team, which defeated Mexico to win a bronze medal at last month's Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, plays its first World Cup game on Sept. 12 against Norway in Hangzhou. Canada meets Ghana on Sept. 15 and Australia on Sept. 19 in Chengdu.

Continue Article

Canada will be looking to better its remarkable fourth-place finish at the 2003 World Cup.

Defending champion Germany, two-time champion United States, 1995 winner Norway and perennial contenders China are among the teams to beat at the event.

CBC Sports is carrying all of Canada's first-round matches, as well as all tournament playoff games, live on TV and online at CBCSports.ca.

In addition to Team Canada's games, CBCSports.ca will carry all tournament matches live online to Canadian viewers.

Canada is ranked ninth in the world by FIFA, soccer's governing body.