Here are five players to watch (not named Christine Sinclair) during Friday’s CONCACAF Olympic qualifier between Canada and Mexico.
5. TERESA NOYOLA, MEXICO
The 2011 Hermann Trophy winner as the top NCAA Division I women’s soccer player, Stanford’s Noyola brings a level of sophistication to Mexico’s attack. While past editions of this squad were characterized by the freewheeling style of Maribel Dominguez and Monica Ocampo, this team has been at its best this tournament when Noyola was controlling the play with surgical precision.
The big question heading into Friday’s game: will Noyola start against Canada? Surprisingly, she was left on the bench against the United States, and sure enough, Mexico’s trademark haphazard play returned in that decisive first half. When she entered that match in the second half, Noyola’s performance was, arguably, the calming influence Mexico needed in the opening 20 minutes.
4. KARINA LeBLANC, CANADA
Barring a last-minute change, LeBlanc is expected to earn her 97th cap on Friday night. This is just the latest chapter in a long battle for the number one job in Canada’s 18-yard box. Many observers believe LeBlanc cemented the top spot at the Pan Am Games, when her chief competitor Erin McLeod was professionally tied in Sweden.
LeBlanc has a flair for the dramatic, but can she coordinate the back line against Mexico’s strikers? Time will tell.
3. MARIBEL DOMINGUEZ, MEXICO
If anyone will score against LeBlanc, chances are it will be the ageless Dominguez. Even at 33 years old, she remains Mexico’s most dangerous player. What I saw against the United States from Dominguez was very similar to what I saw from her in the World Cup: If Mexico gets behind early — or merely shut down offensively — Dominguez will take it upon herself to get her team back in the match. Sometimes it works, but more often than not, it doesn’t.
In fact, in Mexico’s only real chance for a counter attack in the first half against the U.S., a selfish decision by Dominguez negated an opportunity for a good wide run by the Mexicans.
2. SOPHIE SCHMIDT, CANADA
A common theme among writers at this tournament has been the question, ‘who is Canada’s next great player?’ The snarky response is the USA’s Sydney LeRoux, but those inside the Canadian program insist Schmidt has the capability to take a leap into the upper echelon of women’s football.
She will never score as frequently as Sinclair, but the 23-year old’s work rate seems to be one of, if not the best on the squad.
My prediction: She sets up or scores a decisive goal for Canada tonight. She just seems to be in prime condition for a breakout performance.
1. CANDACE CHAPMAN, CANADA
She is, in my mind, the most underrated or at least under-appreciated player on the Canadian roster. This will be Chapman’s 100th cap, and she has been a stalwart on the back line for years now. She has benefitted from practising against pro teammates Christine Sinclair and Marta for two years. Going up against such formidable opposition has had a surprising effect on her own skill set: her game is simple and subtle.
What makes her job even more difficult is that the position beside her has been in a state of flux all tournament. Emily Zurrer used to be a regular at that spot, but she, like McLeod, has potentially lost her spot due to missing the Pan Ams for professional commitments.
Over the course of the tournament, it’s been either veteran Carmelina Moscato, or UCLA product Shannon Woeller playing alongside Chapman. Maintaining a level of comfort with whoever is beside her will be of utmost importance against the likes of Dominguez and Ocampo.