The Canadian women’s national team suffered a tough loss to Denmark in Toronto, leaving the team four goals behind the visiting Danes.
It was a surprisingly warm October afternoon at BMO Field on Monday, as the world number nine-ranked Canada took on the number ten-ranked Denmark in a rematch from just three days prior. The Oct. 9 match produced a much tamer 1-1 result than the 4-3 Thanksgiving onslaught that featured the final international appearance for Canadian soccer legend, Allysha Chapman.
The first five minutes of the match showcased Denmark’s strategy: to target Canada on the wings with through balls on the right to set the tone and put the players on their heels. It seemed to be working perfectly until, just nine minutes in, D.B. Pridham potted the first goal of the game off a broken play from a corner kick, igniting the Toronto crowd in the process.
This was Pridham’s first international goal, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for her team as they took an important early lead.
Over the next 13 minutes, Canada applied much of the same pressure, including a shot off the post and more scoring chances in an attempt to extend their lead. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the home team’s momentum was completely shot. An errant pass from Kadeisha Buchanan in midfield was picked off by Olivia Holdt, who sent a long, arching shot from half-field over the head of the Canadian goalkeeper to level the game at one goal apiece.
This goal marked a stark shift in momentum, as Denmark scored two more goals in the next nine minutes. The captain, Pernille Harder, scored the first, blasting a shot into the bottom left corner after a shot hit the crossbar.
Holdt followed suit with her second goal of the game in the 31st minute after Canada delivered another sloppy turnover in their own end. Though Denmark was taking full advantage of Canada’s mistakes, the home team’s own mistakes were causing them to crumble. Poor defensive positioning and a lack of spatial awareness in the backfield are what led to the Danish takeover.
By the halftime whistle, the visitors led 3-1.
Denmark’s two-goal lead didn’t last long, as Canada scored just three minutes in to cut the deficit to one thanks to Evelyne Viens and Olivia Smith. Viens shot from inside the box deflected over the top of the Danish keeper after Smith made an incredible run pass to set up it all up.
The following 10 minutes were filled with chances for both teams, as Canada came close to knotting the game on multiple occasions. It was Denmark that would regain its two-goal lead after Janni Thomsen was sprung on a long pass down the right side and slid one into the bottom-left corner past Canada’s keeper.
The Canadians weren’t done yet, as they came within one goal again when Smith slid one through the keeper’s arms from outside the box in the 69th minute.
Unfortunately for the home crowd, that was as close as Canada would get, as Denmark took the friendly 4-3 in a dramatic 90 minutes at BMO Field.
The Story of the game was Canada’s mistakes. While the home side had more scoring opportunities, their lack of clinical finishing in clutch moments ultimately kept them out of reach. If Head Coach Casey Stoney’s team had mitigated some questionable midfield passes and poor defensive positioning, this game could have gone the other way.
Credit to the Danes, who played a solid game, highlighted by their first-half barrage and stout midfield play that outclassed Canada for most of the contest.
Next up for Canada is their quarterfinal matchup against Panama in the Concacaf Women’s Championship on Nov. 28. If Stoney can get her players to clean up on the defensive side of the ball and limit the poor passes, Canada has a real shot at taking home this Concacaf trophy.