Canada's women's soccer team let an early lead slip away on Monday afternoon in Toronto, falling 4-3 to Denmark in an international friendly at BMO Field that exposed defensive frailties days before a World Cup qualifier.
Delaney Pridham opened the scoring in the 10th minute with her first senior international goal, set up after a header from Kaylee Hunter, the AFC Toronto forward making her first Canada start. The announced crowd of 12,112 had barely settled when Denmark seized the game, scoring three times in a nine-minute span from the 24th minute as Canadian turnovers were punished ruthlessly.
Olivia Holdt scored twice and added an assist for Denmark, with Pernille Harder — netting her 87th international goal — and Janni Thomsen also on target. Olivia Smith and Evelyne Viens replied for Canada, but the comeback fell short.
Head coach Casey Stoney had spoken before the match about the need for clinical finishing; afterwards the focus shifted squarely to the defensive lapses. The friendly was the second meeting of the window between the sides — they drew 1-1 in Montreal on Friday — and Canada's final tune-up before its World Cup qualifier.
