World champions Spain score a late goal to draw with Canada in a women’s soccer friendly

ALMENDRALEJO, Spain — Substitute Cristina Martin-Prieto scored in the 89th minute to give world champion Spain a 1-1 draw with Canada in a women’s soccer friendly on Friday.

She Batlle found Martin-Prieto, who was making her debut, in front of goal with a cross as Spain, in third, launched one attack after another in a desperate attempt to score. And the Benfica striker sent the ball home.

Spain had 73 percent possession, outshot Canada 32-5 (10-1 in shots on target) and had 10 corners to Canada’s one.

Canada, despite being outplayed for much of the game, took the lead in the 49th minute through substitute Marie-Yasmine Alidou.

Spain dominated possession and territory in the first half and sixth-ranked Canada were lucky to go into the break with the score 0-0. The home team outshot Canada 16-4 (3-0 shots on target) in the first 45 minutes.

But Canada took the lead early in the second half after Evelyn Viens pounced on a strong touch from defender Maria Mendez. Viens headed towards goal and, attracting two defenders, found an open Alida, whose shot from the penalty area beat goalkeeper Kata Kolla.

It was Alidou’s first goal in her third match for the senior team. The 29-year-old from Montreal, who plays in Portuguese football for Benfica, was called up to the national team late due to an injury to Chloe Lacasse.

Canada’s defense buckled but didn’t break as Spain continued to press forward. Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo made a great save in the 81st minute to deny Alexia Putellas’ shot and then stopped Martin-Prieto’s shot a minute later.

But Spain continued to attack and was finally rewarded.

Canada and Spain have met three times before, with Spain holding a 2-0-1 advantage. Alidou’s goal was Canada’s first against Spain.

Friday’s game was the Canadians’ first since losing on penalties to Germany in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3.

Assistant coach Andy Spence, as he did in Paris, has been in charge of Team Canada in the absence of head coach Bev Priestman, who was suspended from soccer for a year this summer following the Olympic drone spying scandal.

On the day of the match at 22:00 local time at the Estadio Francisco de la Guera in south-west Spain, with a capacity of 11.58 degrees, it was 13°C, which felt like nine°C.

Canada soon found itself under threat and Spain showed its teeth early. Mariona Caldenti fired wide in the third minute after a beautiful strike, and Teresa Abelleira forced goalkeeper Kaylen Sheridan to save with a one-handed long-range diving shot in the 15th minute.

At the other end, Janine Becky sent a long shot low in the 18th minute, with Call finding himself out of position after an erroneous clearance attempt.

Abelleira tried to catch Sheridan with a long-range shot that went just over the crossbar in the 24th minute. A minute later, Putellas’ powerful shot from a corner hit defender Kadeisha Buchanan and bounced off the crossbar.

Canada had a great chance in the 43rd minute when Olivia Smith put Viens behind the Spanish defense, but Viens’ quick shot missed the target.

Alidu, Julia Grosso and D’Angelo entered the field early in the second half for Team Canada. Nichelle Prince and Adriana Leon came off the bench.

Alba Redondo fired wide in the 55th minute after an error by the Canadian defense and missed again in the 63rd minute.

Canada fielded a strong starting 11 players, a group that combined for 816 caps. Viens, Smith and Jordyn Huitema took the lead.

Smith, 20, and Simi Awujo, 21, who started in midfield, play in England for Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.

Canada was missing the injured Quinn, Sydney Collins, Jade Riviere and Lacasse.

Putellas, the Barcelona captain, led a Spanish team missing Ballon d’Or winner Altana Bonmati and her Barca teammate Irene Paredes, who were both rested ahead of the international window in which Spain play No. 14 Italy on Tuesday .

The Spaniards’ starting line-up includes five players from Real Madrid, four from Barcelona and two from England’s Arsenal. Barcelona, ​​the reigning UEFA Women’s Champions League title holders, have won the Spanish Women’s League for the past five seasons, with Real Madrid finishing runners-up three times during that time.

Diana Mathieson, co-founder and development director of the fledgling Northern Super League, and Katie Collar, head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC women’s elite team, have been added to the coaching staff in temporary positions for the duration of the game.

They join Spence and fellow assistant coaches Jen Hurst and Neil Wood in the coaching ensemble.

Priestman remains on Canada Soccer’s payroll pending an independent investigation into the scandal led by Sonja Regenbogen of the law firm Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark.

Canada managed to qualify for the Olympic playoffs despite being docked six points for a spying scandal that also saw Canada Soccer fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($318,700).

Spain finished fourth at the Paris Olympics, losing 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal match.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.