Canada have wrapped up a positive international break at the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup following a draw, a win and a loss against top-10 European sides England, Germany and Spain. Following a 1:1 draw with England and a 1:0 win over Germany, Canada lost 0:1 to Spain in the group finale in Wolverhampton, England on Wednesday 23 February. Spain’s Alexia Putellas was the lone goalscorer in the first half before both Canada’s Jordyn Huitema in the first half and Putellas in the second half hit the crossbar.
Across the tournament, Janine Beckie scored the equalizer in the opening match against England and Vanessa Gilles scored the winner in the second match against Germany. Canada’s win against Germany was their first-ever clean sheet victory against the former FIFA World Cup and Olympic champions.
“There were lots of positives from this tournament that we can take forward,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “We came here to get that experience against European opponents and we got that experience that we can take forward when it really matters in the future. We showed in this tournament that we are moving forward as a group and that’s important.”
Canada’s starting XI featured Kailen Sheridan in goal, Jayde Riviere at right back, Vanessa Gilles and Kadeisha Buchanan at centre back, Ashley Lawrence at left back, and Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Desiree Scott, Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie, Jordyn Huitema and Deanne Rose from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, Head Coach Bev Priestman replaced Sheridan with Sabrina D’Angelo (46′), Alidou with Quinn (46′), Riviere with Gabrielle Carle (53′), Scott with Desiree Scott (53′), Huitema with Nichelle Prince (64′), and Beckie with Cloé Lacasse (77′).
