Canadian women’s national team takes lumps in exhibition win against Argentina


As a developing women’s soccer country, Argentina do not have the talent to match Canada on the field, so it attempted to make up the difference by defending in numbers and tackling with extreme prejudice

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Prepare to be frustrated seemed to be the takeaway for the Canadian women’s national soccer team in an exhibition game against Argentina in Cadiz, Spain on Thursday.

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As a developing women’s soccer country, Argentina does not have the talent to match Canada on the field, so it attempted to make up the difference by defending in numbers and tackling with extreme prejudice.

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Canada was able to prevail 2-0 at the Estadio Sanluqueño, but had to work hard for the victory and needed plenty of ice bags after the match.

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“I think we got exactly the same thing last time we played Argentina, so we were prepared for it,” said Canada head coach Bev Priestman. “I challenged the group to win every restart (free kick) rather than focus on the antics we were going to face. I think that kept the team composed, but at the same time, it breaks up rhythm and it stops you from getting going.

“They’re a difficult team to play against, but I think you can expect that from an Argentina team.”

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For those familiar with Argentine soccer, it was not a surprise how they approached the game against the defending Olympic champions. Nor was it shocking Argentina did not finish with 11 players on the field.

Canada was on the receiving end of a number of hard challenges, which could be a preview of what to expect at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as the tournament expands from 24 to 32 teams.

The larger field is expected to widen the gap between the established women’s soccer powers and the developing countries, paving the way for physical, defensive struggles.

Argentina, who also qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, kept most of its players behind the ball and rarely ventured far beyond its own half. Despite being an exhibition game, Argentina also did not hesitate in plowing through its opponents when the opportunities arose.

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“I was frustrated, probably like most people watching, in the first half,” Priestman said. “I thought we took a while to get going, which I knew we would, given we only had one real training session going into it.”

Canada was looking to put in another solid performance, building off a pair of victories against Australia in Brisbane and Sydney in September.

It took some time for Canada to find its rhythm, spending a majority of the first half picking themselves off the grass after a number of late challenges, which the Spanish referee seemed unwilling to crack down on, keeping the yellow card in his pocket.

Canada’s chances to score in the first half were limited to a pair of close-range opportunities for Adriana Leon, who squandered both of them.

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Leon, 29, who made the move from West Ham to Manchester United this season and scored all three goals in the two wins against Australia, was in the crosshairs of the Argentine defenders all game and took the brunt of the punishment.

The Mississauga, Ont., product should have put Canada up 10 minutes into the game, when she got to the end of a low cross from Nichelle Prince off the left wing. Leon, uncharacteristically, however, failed to connect cleanly with her left foot and had the ball pop up and hit her arm before it rolled into the net.

Later in the half, Leon had a similar opportunity off an identical cross from Prince, but shot the ball right at Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa, who stopped it in self-defence.

In the second half, the recklessness eventually caught up to Argentina as centre back Marina Delgado picked up two cautions in five minutes and was sent off. Delgado was first booked for a cynical challenge against Jessie Fleming along the sideline in front of the Canadian bench.

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Just five minutes later, Delgado got tangled with Leon and ended up karate chopping the Canadian striker in the throat. The second yellow card earned Delgado an early shower and gave Canada a player advantage for the final 33 minutes of the game.

With extra room to operate, Canada began creating chances and eventually broke through in the 68th minute. Midfielder Quinn sprung substitute Evelyne Viens with a pass through the heart of the Argentina midfield. Viens then combined with Simisola Awujo to get in behind the Argentina defence.

Viens found herself in a race for a through ball with Correa in the penalty area, and it eventually ricochet off defender Aldana Cometti and into the net to give Canada the lead.

Cloe Lacasse then made it 2-0 with her first international goal in the 87th minute. Lacasse, got to a rebound in front after Viens turned in a low cross from Clarissa Larisey, which Correa was able to stop at the near post.

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“As everybody knows Argentina is really scrappy, they look for those fouls and try to get in your head a little bit,” Lacasse said. “The first half, we had a lot of chances, unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize. But when we came in, in the second half, we got to play an Argentina that was a bit tuckered out and we were able to finish those opportunities and capitalize and get the victory.”

Canada will stay in Spain to face Morocco on Monday, in the second of the two-game international window.

Priestman and her team will then keep a close watch on the 2023 Women’s World Cup draw to take place in Auckland, New Zealand on Oct. 22, to see who Canada will face in the group stage.

“At the end of the day, I’m happy because of the finishers (substitutes) that came in,” Priestman said. “We got an assist from Clarissa, we got an assist from Simi, and then got Evelyne and Cloe scoring. We also had some good chances in the first half.

“Overall, you look at how it speaks to the depth of the team, and it’s great these players are now getting experience for the future.”

Email: [email protected]

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest

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