Erin McLeod and Canada Play the Netherlands
Published on June 15, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (June 15, 2015) - Erin McLeod and Canada play the Netherlands today at 7:30 p.m. ET at Olympic Stadium in Montreal knowing a draw is enough to get the hosts into the knockout stages of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The Houston Dash goalkeeper posted her second consecutive shutout of the tournament in a scoreless draw with New Zealand on Thursday in front of 35,554 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta as the hosts remained top of Group A thanks to China PR's victory over the Netherlands the same day.
Those results mean that Canada only needs a draw to secure one of the top two spots in their group and thereby guaranteeing qualification for the Round of 16.
McLeod only had to face one shot on goal in the match, but was fortunate to see New Zealand forward Amber Hearn's penalty kick crash off the crossbar in the 33rd minute.
But if Canada were lucky to have not fallen behind on Hearn's spot kick, the hosts were equally unfortunate to see both Portland Thorns FC forward and national team captain Christine Sinclair's shot pushed onto the crossbar by New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler.
Former NWSL player Sophie Schmidt also struck the bar with a looping cross from a free kick near the right sideline and Chicago Red Stars midfielder Melissa Tancredi saw a goal disallowed for offsides earlier in the game.
Canada coach John Herdman once again opted to start six NWSL players in the match with the Dash's Lauren Sesselmann and Allysha Chapman as well as Sky Blue FC's Jonelle Filigno joining Sinclair, Tancredi and McLeod in the starting XI.
Chapman picked up her first yellow of the tournament for the foul in the box on Hannah Wilkinson that led to the penalty kick. The card was initially given to Sesselmann in a case of mistaken identity, but later transferred to Chapman.
Portland Thorns FC midfielder Kaylyn Kyle and Chicago Red Stars forward Adriana Leon both came on as second-half substitutes in the match.
If Canada can secure a win or a draw against the Dutch on Monday, it will be the first time since the 2003 tournament that the North Americans will have made it out of the group stage - having narrowly missed out on the knockout stages in 2007 due to Cheryl Salisbury's injury-time goal for Australia and a poor display in 2011 that saw them lose all three games at the tournament that year.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 15, 2015
- Flash Sign Nigerian International Halimatu Ayinde - Western New York Flash
- Abby Erceg And New Zealand Take On China - NWSL
- Erin McLeod and Canada Play the Netherlands - NWSL
- Sky Blue FC Announces June 28th Match as Pride Night - Sky Blue FC
- Nadine Angerer and Germany Face off against Thailand Today - NWSL
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