Another loss to the powerful U.S. women, but Canada put on a better show Wednesday in a 1-0 defeat in women's soccer play at the SheBelieves Cup.
The 10th-ranked Canadians had been outclassed 3-0 by the second-ranked Americans the last time they met in a July friendly. While Canada narrowed the gap Wednesday, the U.S. still held the upper hand.
The Americans had 60 per cent possession in a scoreless first half, outshooting Canada 9-2 (1-1 in shots on target) with a 5-1 edge in corners.
Ally Sentnor's second-half goal proved to be the difference.
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The U.S. had been turning on the pressure as the first half wore on and went ahead in the 55th minute when Canada failed to clear a Rose Lavelle corner, allowing an unchallenged Sentnor to fire a shot into the corner of the goal.
The U.S. had chances to add to its lead in the second half with Canadian 'keeper Kailen Sheridan stopping Alyssa Thompson twice.
"Disappointed that we've conceded from a set piece, because it was one of our objectives this camp not to," said Canada coach Casey Stoney.
"But I have to be really proud of the players," she added. "There's huge progress from the last time we played the U.S. … I think we've matched them in certain areas today."
Adding to the Canadian challenge was an illness that had gone though camp, sidelining captain Jessie Fleming and requiring Simi Awujo to leave in the 37th minute.
The contest, before an announced crowd of 18,545 on a damp evening at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, was the second outing for both at the four-team tournament.
The Canadians had snapped a five-game losing streak with an impressive 4-1 win over No. 20 Colombia in Nashville on Sunday before the U.S. opened with a chippy 2-0 win over No. 30 Argentina.
Colombia edged Argentina 1-0 in the early game Wednesday. Canada will wrap up tournament play Saturday in Harrison, N.J., against Argentina minus Mimi Alidou, who is suspended after picking up yellow cards in the first two games.
Wednesday marked the first meeting between the two North American rivals since a lacklustre Canada was blanked on July 2 in Washington, D.C., in a game Stoney called "a reality check for everybody."
A young U.S. side had 66 per cent possession that day at Audi Field, outshot Canada 22-7 (8-3 in shots on target) and had a 6-0 edge in corners. In the two meetings before that in 2024, Canada had lost penalty shootouts to the U.S. in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinal and SheBelieves Cup final.
The July shutout loss to the Americans started the recent Canadian slump. The Canadians were shut out during the five-game slide, failing to score against No. 25 Switzerland, the 11th-ranked Netherlands and No. 8 Japan (twice).
In contrast, the American women have now won eight straight, having outscored the opposition 28-1 since a 2-1 loss to No. 22 Portugal on Oct. 23. They have shut out the opposition for the last 715 minutes.
Canada's record against the U.S. slipped to 4-55-9 in a rivalry that dates back to 1986, when the Canadian women’s program was established. The Canadians have not won on American soil since Nov. 11, 2000 — in Columbus — although the U.S. needed a penalty shootout to dispatch Canada in the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup.
Canada’s last win over the U.S. was a 1-0 decision in the Tokyo Olympic semifinal in August 2021. That was the Americans’ first loss to their northern neighbours since March 2001, in the group stage of the Algarve Cup.
Both teams were guilty of early turnovers with Canada testing American goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, earning her fifth cap, with a low shot in the first 10 minutes. The U.S. had plenty of possession but failed to turn it into scoring chances.
But the home side kept coming, turning up the pressure as the first half wore on.
Sentnor came close in the 33rd minute but her shot off a corner deflected wide off a defender with Sheridan beaten.
Sheridan made a diving save to parry a deflected shot from Thompson in the 42nd minute. Two minutes later, Sentnor pilfered the ball off an unsuspecting Jade Rose in the Canadian penalty box but fired her shot wide.
Stoney made six changes to her starting 11 with Awujo, Sydney Collins, Julia Grosso, Nichelle Prince, Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens all slotting in. Vanessa Gilles served as captain in Fleming's absence.
The U.S. made 10 changes with only fullback Gisele Thompson retaining her place.
The U.S. starting 11 had a combined 509 caps heading into the match, the most experienced lineup fielded by coach Emma Hayes since an October game against Portugal. Canada's starting 11 had a combined 611 caps ahead of the match.
The U.S. has won seven of the previous 10 editions of the SheBelieves Cup, while finishing runner-up twice.
Canada is making its fourth appearance at the tournament, having finished second in 2024, third in 2021 and fourth in 2023.
The U.S. and Canada are both preparing for November's eight-team CONCACAF W Championship, which serves as a 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympic qualifier. As host of the Los Angeles Games, the U.S. women have an automatic berth in the next Olympics.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2026
