An audacious first-half chip from Diana Matheson and a cool second-half finish from Christine Sinclair gave Canada a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the opening match of the Matchworld Women’s World Cup.

“We create some technical blueprints in each game,” Herdman said during a conference call with media on Wednesday.

“We’re one goal away from the potential gold medalist, and I think that’s a reality,” he explained. ?“In January, we were four goals away. We’ll try to bridge that gap in the next few weeks.”

Julien, who was part of the Canadian team that finished second at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Vancouver, lost her striker’s spot to Jonelle Filigno, who missed Olympic qualifying because of an injury she suffered while playing for Rutgers.

An estimated crowd of around 500 gathered Thursday in the Vancouver suburbs to see hometown hero Christine Sinclair scored a late chip-shot goal to give the Canadian women’s team a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s side.

This Thursday, the Canadian women will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps’ women’s team in an exhibition match that is not only open to the public, but admission is, well, free.

Herdman is now encouraging his players to play possession football when appropriate – but also not to shirk away from playing a more direct style against superior technical sides.

Right after the Canadian national women’s team was drawn into an Olympic group with World Cup champs Japan and World Cup third-place finisher Sweden, Herdman told reporters via a conference call that he didn’t think Big Red was in the Group of Death

Christabel Oduro’s standout performance in helping Canada qualify for the U-20 Women’s World Cup has earned her a call to the senior team.

France got a goal in each half as Les Bleus beat our national women's team 2-0 in the final on Tuesday, denying Canada its bid for a third straight Cyprus Cup championship.