If Canada’s 2-2 draw with Brazil in the final of the Torneio Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo is any indication, next summer’s Women’s World Cup is going to be pretty spectacular. The match produced a bevy of shots and saves, a sending off, a blown ACL (which isn’t so spectacular), breakneck end-to-end action, and two of the most spectacular goals you’ll likely have seen in 2010 and possibly in 2011 and 2012 too. And all of this was played before a raucous, near-capacity crowd complete with smoke bombs and joyous, shirtless Brazilian dudes.

Canada and Brazil advanced out of the group stage as leaders. The two teams finished their group stage meeting at loggerheads but Canada was flattered by the 0-0 result. As AWK’s Canada contributor Lissa put it, Canada got the ‘palm-face’ treatment by a Brazil team who were hard done by some excellent work from Canada’s third-choice goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé.

Labbé continued to set a fine impression of herself early on in today’s final, appearing composed before a Brazil attack that was happy to follow Marta’s lead. Canada’s defense withstood some scary moments early. The back four denied Marta the opportunity to revel in the end result of some excellent playmaking.

Canada was rewarded for its stoutness early as Melissa Tancredi bounded towards the touch line and sent in a pin-point accurate cross in for Josée Bélanger who arrived on cue. Bélanger’s header from point-blank range beat Brazil’s goalkeeper Andrea and sent Canada forth, much to the host’s surprise.

Shortly thereafter, Brazilian veteran and FC Gold Pride ca. 2009 player Renata Costa fell to the floor in a heap, clutching her knee in agony. It was an ugly sight and Brazil appeared a little shaken immediately thereafter. The first half whistled to a close and Big Red was halfway to winning its third title of the year, after victories in the Cyprus Cup and CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying.

The women’s soccer gods were seemingly keen to save the best for last, as the second half featured some of the most entertaining fare witnessed all year. Both goalkeepers were put on guard as shots came raining in from the likes of an enthused Bélanger and a confident Formiga. Canada seemed less content to sit back and absorb the waves of pressure. Rather, the team passed its way out of danger and attacked goalkeeper Andrea with conviction. Brazil, meanwhile, matched Canada’s endeavor and threat in the counterattack.

And then the moment came when Marta rose to the peak of her powers and exhibited why she is the most dynamic attacking player the women’s game has ever seen. Her blistering slalom run in which she rounded three or four or maybe five Canadian defenders, then finished with the coolest of finishes rivaled some of Messi’s best stuff. I know that sounds like hyperbole but just watch the goal and judge for yourself.

More dramatics ensued as Canada’s center-back Marie-Eve Nault was whistled and subsequently red carded for an unfortunate hand ball in the box. Marta was called into action and again slotted a calm shot past Labbé. Brazil had doubled its lead to 2-1. The momentum seemed to be irretrievable, particularly as Canada was forced to complete the match with 10 men.

But Marta’s former FC Gold Pride strike partner treated herself to a goal that was as brilliant as it was nonsensical. Christine Sinclair, who had been having a pretty pedestrian match, teed up a shot right on the edge of the area that somehow overcame the acute angle and ricocheted off the goalpost before settling into the corner of the net before Andrea had a chance to regain her bearings.

It was an absolutely sensational strike that most players wouldn’t even bother attempting. The circus shot tied up the game and gave Canada enough points in the table to overcome Brazil in the round-robin tournament. Marta’s last-gasp free kick was cleared and Canada was cleared through to a surprise victory. It was also the team’s second title earned in a gruff away environment after Sinclair’s penalty kick dashed Mexico’s hopes of winning CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying on home soil.

The victory caps off a spectacular year for Big Red. The team will hope to spoil yet another homecoming come World Cup time when Canada opens its campaign against mighty Germany in the nation’s capital. The game is set to be the best-attended women’s soccer game on the European continent. Berliners should be prepared to be won over.

Video after the jump.

(Bélanger’s header at 1:50, Marta’s magic at 4:00, Nault’s hand ball at 4:15 and Sinclair’s ridiculousness at 7:00)

Prior to the match, Our Game Magazine reported that the Philadelphia Independence’s Caroline Seger had been traded to the Western New York Flash for second round draft picks in both 2011 and 2012.

The move is yet another coup for a Flash team that continues to act very un-expansion team like with its adroit acquisitions. Though Seger didn’t bang in the goals for the Independence (they had A-Rod to do that), the Swede provided steel and creativity to what was one of the best midfields in WPS last season.

Unless something tragic happens and Brittany Bock and/or McCall Zerboni get a call-up, Seger becomes the first Flash midfielder who is very likely bound for the World Cup this summer. Seger led Sweden in goals in Women’s World Cup qualifying, scoring seven times in 10 matches.

Although the Independence will lose a key member of their WPS Championship runners-up squad, the team’s offseason strategy has become apparent. Building by means of the draft seems to be Philadelphia’s modus operandi. The team now lays claim to seven picks in the 2011 WPS Draft (2nd, 5th, 9th, 11th, 15th, 18th and 23rd), more than one-quarter of all the available picks. With the Flash’s ninth overall pick in the second round, Philadelphia also becomes the only WPS team that will have a pick in each round.

The exit of Seger also clears up cap space for the supposed impending arrivals of Megan Rapinoe and Tasha Kai from the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC respectively.

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