Head coach Casey Stoney has emphasized the importance of more precise goal-scoring from the Canadian women’s soccer team. However, defensive vulnerabilities appear to be a more critical issue.
Denmark secured a 4-3 victory over Canada in an international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto, with Olivia Holdt netting twice and providing an assist. Pernille Harder and Janni Thomsen also found the back of the net for Denmark, capitalizing on defensive errors to score three goals in a quick nine-minute span during the first half.
Canadian forward Evelyne Viens acknowledged that Denmark capitalized on their mistakes, leading to a clear outcome. Despite goals from Viens, Olivia Smith, and Delaney Pridham, Canada fell short in front of a crowd of 12,112 at the stadium.
In the previous match in Montreal, the teams drew 1-1, with Canada emerging victorious in the unofficial shootout. In the recent game, Canada deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation while Denmark opted for a 3-4-3 setup. Notably, Kailen Sheridan started in goal for Canada, with Jessie Fleming captaining the team.
Pridham opened the scoring early on, followed by a surge of goals from Denmark due to defensive lapses by Canada. Stoney expressed disappointment at the costly errors made by the team.
Despite efforts to narrow the gap in the second half, Denmark maintained their lead, eventually winning the match. Stoney continues to seek her first victory against a top-15 opponent since becoming Canada’s coach in January 2025.
The friendlies served as preparation for Canada’s upcoming match against Panama in the CONCACAF W Championship, a pivotal qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Denmark has already secured their spot in the World Cup after topping their UEFA qualifying group.
Allysha Chapman marked her 100th and final international appearance for Canada, while Fleming, Buchanan, and Lawrence were recognized for reaching 150 career international caps. The game also saw Melissa Tancredi honored for her induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.
With this defeat, Canada’s head-to-head record against Denmark stands at 3-4-1 in eight meetings.
