Canada finishes Yongchuan Cup with scoreless draw against Pellerud’s Norway

It was a game that offered a clash of style’s — the direct play favoured by Norwegian coach Even Pellerud against a young Canadian women’s national team that is trying to play more of a possession game an keep the ball on the ground. In the end, the final of the Yongchuan Cup was a stalemate; a 0-0 draw that was enough for Norway to clinch the tournament title. But, for Canadian supporters, at least they could claim the moral victory that Pellerud, a former coach of our women’s national team, didn’t get the satisfaction of a full three points. Current Canadian women’s team coach John Herdman had been saying even before this tournament that Canada’s goal was not to win at Yongchuan, but to integrate a large number of U-17 and U-20 prospects — including the likes of Adriana Leon, Kadeisha Buchanana, Christabel Oduro and Nichelle Prince — into the senior national set-up. Seven players got their first senior national caps at this tournament. “The players competed well physically against a very strong Norwegian side – and we matched them” Herdman was quoted in a release issued by the Canadian Soccer Association. “We had the better passages of play but they probably had the better chances from direct play and set pieces. “All credit has to go to the young players, this tournament has been a good start for Canada, but there is still a long way to go.” Norway defender Marit Christensen Fiane, who led a backline that didn’t allow a goal in the tournament, was named the MVP of the tournament. Pellerud, who coached Canada from 1999-2008, praised his team. “It was another strong game from us,” Pellerud, told fotball.no. “Initially there was a siege with a focus on organization and discipline. There were not many chances. In the second half we took hold of the game and we were the best. We created a lot, without getting the ball in the net. There was a whole-hearted effort where we dominated.” RELATED: Canadian women outgunned by South Korea (CLICK)