NWSL newcomers lead Canada to Win Algarve Cup

After starting the Algarve Cup with a loss to Denmark, Canada knocked off Belgium and Iceland, both by a goal, to meet Brazil in the final match. The last time the two teams met was in Brazil during the December tournament which saw Marta collide with goalkeeper Erin McLeod before leading the Brazilian team to win in a 3:1 end. In that match newly drafted Janine Beckie scored Canada's lone goal.

This time, however, Canada came out with a mission. With not much happening in the first half except for Christine Sinclair getting a yellow and coach John Herdman getting the boot after Marta collided with defender Kadeisha Buchanan (who also was named Player of the Tournament), the second half was full of action. Canada rotated goalkeepers before the second half kicked off with Western New York's Sabrina D'Angelo replacing the Spirit's Stephanie Labbe,

The Spirit's new defender Shelina Zadorsky put Canada on the board first in the 61', with Beckie adding another roughly five minutes later. Brazil's lone goal came in the 89', with Canada winning the Algarve tournament and becoming the sixth country to win since the tournaments inception.

Brazil may be a newfound rivalry for Canadian fans. After playing against each other twice in December 2015, as well as once this tournament, the two teams will meet again in June on Canadian soil.