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Head coach Casey Stoney has preached the need for more clinical finishing from the Canadian women’s soccer team.
Gaps in the defense may be a more pressing area of concern.
Olivia Holdt scored twice and had an assist to lead Denmark to a 4-3 win over Canada in an international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto on Monday.
Pernille Harder and Janni Thomsen also got on the scoresheet for the visitors, who took advantage of some sloppy defending to score three goals in the space of nine first-half minutes to put the hosts on the line.
“They made us pay for all our mistakes,” Canadian forward Evelyne Viens said. “That was pretty obvious.”
Viens, Olivia Smith and Delaney Pridham scored for Canada in front of an announced crowd of 12,112 on a warm, mostly sunny afternoon at the lakeside stadium.
Despite hitting the net with three goals in the final seconds, the Canadian women were unable to complete the comeback against Denmark. The Danes won the international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto with a score of 4-3.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Montreal on Friday. Smith scored a late equalizer for the hosts in that game and Canada won the unofficial shootout 4-2.
On Monday, the ninth-placed Canadians started with a 4-2-3-1 formation, while the 12th-placed Danes started with a 3-4-3. Kailen Sheridan started in net for Canada and Jessie Fleming wore the captain’s armband.
Pridham opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Kaylee Hunter fired the ball into the box from the bottom. Pridham spun and beat goalkeeper Freja Thisgaard for her first goal with the women’s senior team.
“I was ready, got back on target, turned and hit it,” Pridham said. “I think I caught the keeper off guard.”
Canada kept up the pressure and were almost rewarded soon after when Smith’s shot from outside the area glanced off Thisgaard and hit the post.
Danish score increase
Defensive errors contributed to Denmark’s goal increase starting in the 24th minute.
Holdt was awarded a loose ball after Canada’s Julia Grosso failed to clear defender Kadeisha Buchanan’s pass in midfield. The Danish forward took a few steps inside the halfway line and headed it over Sheridan’s head and back into the net.
Moments later, an errant pass attempt by Buchanan created another turnover. Sofie Bredgaard’s shot hit the crossbar but Denmark controlled the ball and Harder beat Sheridan in the 27th minute.
Harder (10) celebrates his first half goal with Holdt (13). (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
In the 32nd minute, Ashley Lawrence’s pass to Jade Rose was deflected low and the ball found its way to an open Holdt, who netted her first international double.
“I think there were some odd moments that cost us tonight,” Stoney said.
The pace picked up in the second half as Pridham and Buchanan came off for Viens and Shelina Zadorsky.
Canada cut the deficit in the 49th minute after some hard work from Smith, who found Viens at the top of the area. Viens attempted a sliding shot that eluded a defender and bounced off the grass and into the top corner.
Thomsen restored Denmark’s two-goal cushion in the 61st minute as he coolly slotted the ball between two defenders and past Sheridan.
In the 70th minute, Smith scored from the edge of the penalty area. His shot was miscued by Thisgaard, who got down to collect the ball but rolled the ball between his legs and over the line.
Stoney is still looking for his first win against a top-15 opponent since taking over as Canada’s head coach in January 2025.
Canada’s women’s national soccer team played a pair of games against Denmark — their first home games in a year — as they prepare for a chance to qualify for the CONCACAF Championship and the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Final preparations for the CONCACAF W Championship
The friendlies served as a measuring stick before Canada’s opening match against No. 54 Panama in the CONCACAF W Championship on Nov. 28.
The tournament is a qualifier for both the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Denmark has already qualified for the World Cup after topping the UEFA qualifying groups.
Left back Allysha Chapman came on in the 89th minute to make her 100th and final international appearance for Canada. He was greeted during the ceremony after the game.
Fleming, Buchanan and Lawrence were honored before the game for reaching 150 career international caps. During halftime, Melissa Tancredi was recognized as being inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
Canada falls to 3-4-1 in eight all-time meetings with Denmark.