Deanne Rose of Canada and Aldana Cometti of Argentina battle for possession during the first half of an international friendly match held in Langford, British Columbia, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Canada’s women’s soccer team tasted defeat for the first time under new head coach Casey Stoney after a 1-0 loss to Argentina in a friendly match on Tuesday night in Langford, B.C. Despite the disappointment, Stoney believes the tough result could prove valuable for the team in the long run.
"You never want to lose, but adversity teaches us," she said after the match. "Struggles show us what’s missing and what we need to fix."
Ranked seventh in the world, Canada was expected to dominate the 33rd-ranked Argentine squad. Just days earlier, they secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against the same team in Vancouver. However, Argentina returned to the field with a stronger, more aggressive approach that completely threw off Canada’s rhythm.
The match began with early chances for the home side. In the seventh minute, forward Deanne Rose broke through two defenders and went one-on-one with Argentine goalkeeper Solana Pereyra. Her shot, however, hit the keeper’s legs, keeping the score level.
Argentina responded with growing pressure. In the 22nd minute, they nearly scored off a free kick when Sophia Dominguez’s shot bounced off the crossbar. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute. Yamila Rodriguez sent in a free kick that curved toward the near post and slipped under Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo for the lone goal of the game.
Canada had multiple chances from free kicks to even the score but couldn’t convert. The Argentine defense held firm, disrupting Canada’s plays and slowing the pace at every opportunity.
"It wasn’t a lack of effort," Stoney said. "It was about small mistakes in big moments and missed chances in front of goal. We weren’t sharp enough."
Canada’s best chance to get back into the match came late in the second half. In the 77th minute, Janine Sonis sprinted on a breakaway, only to have her shot blocked by Pereyra—who handled the ball outside the box and was shown a red card. After arguing the decision, Pereyra was replaced by Renata Masciarelli.
Canada quickly tested the substitute goalkeeper, but Jessie Fleming’s powerful free kick went straight into her arms. Despite being a player up, Canada failed to break through.
Tuesday’s game featured a different starting lineup from the one that beat Argentina earlier. D’Angelo replaced Kailen Sheridan in goal, and young forward Kayla Briggs earned her first start for the senior team, earning "performance of the match." Midfielder Holly Ward also made her debut, entering the game in the 64th minute.
"It was a chance to try out new players," said Stoney. "There were positives to take away."
This marked Canada’s first loss under Stoney, who took over as head coach in January. The team now holds a 3-1-1 record during her short tenure. Looking ahead, Stoney and her staff will be reviewing every part of the match—from lineup changes to set-piece strategy and how to better use smaller pitches.
Canada’s next challenge comes on July 2 when they face the United States in Washington, D.C.
