Friendly

Some 40,000 Poles showed up at the Stadion Energa Gdansk to celebrate Poland’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with a friendly match against Mexico on Monday, but the feel-good energy enveloping the arena was quickly ruined by El Tri striker Raul Jimenez.

The Benfica forward looked hungry early on, sending a battling header straight at Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the game’s opening minutes, but he made no mistake with his second effort only 13 minutes in.

The USWNT finished off 2017 with a commanding 3-1 victory over Canada in front of 17,690 at the Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, with Julie Ertz, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd scoring the goals for the States. Janine Beckie scored the lone goal for the Canadians.

Overall, the USWNT posted a record of 12 wins, three losses and one draw in 2017. Although they weren’t victorious at either the SheBelieves Cup or the Tournament of Nations, the U.S. finished the year on an eight-match unbeaten streak dating back to July 30.

While the rest of the world watched the playoff between Denmark and Ireland, the tail end of qualifying in Africa or one of Saturday’s more glamorous friendlies, Macedonia (the world’s 85th ranked side) defeated Norway (58) 2-0 in a friendly with goals coming from Goran Pandev and Kire Markoski.

The first, finished by Genoa forward Pandev, was made possible following a wonderful assist from Ezgjan Alioski, a 25-year-old winger who plays for Leeds United. 

The Canadian women’s program is undoubtedly on the rise, but their hex against the USWNT remains an unsolvable issue dating back to their last victory against their southern neighbors in 2001. On Thursday night in Vancouver they had their chances, but the United States held on for a 1-1 draw after Alex Morgan’s sweetly struck volley was canceled out by Adriana Leon.