Friendlies don’t mean much, but for the Canada women’s national team, they needed to perform in this one.
Their last match was a dull and frustrating 0-0 draw to Iceland on Friday. With one last match in 2024, Canada had one last chance to prove they are better than previous results have shown.
Once again, the setting was Murcia, Spain. The opponent was South Korea, who are currently ranked 19th in the world.
First half dominance
Canada managed to keep it a quiet first half for goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan as she did not face a single shot. The Canadians had 60% possession in the first half and 10 shots, four were on target.
The Canadians were way more cohesive in the first half against South Korea than they were against Iceland. Jesse Fleming was dictating the play as an eight next to Emma Regan. While Regan is naturally a centre-back, the North Vancouver native and HB Køge player was playing as a sixth and was doing a good job holding down the physicality the Koreans were bringing.
Marie-Yasmine Alidou and Olivia Smith were also displaying good link-up play and Smith in particular was active with her pressing. The final third has been a problem for the Canadian women for a while and it has been frustrating.
Even if you don’t score your goal, a goal is a goal. Smith managed to squeeze the ball past the South Korean goalkeeper Kyung-Hee Kim but it went off the defender Lim Seon-joo.
The Olivia Smith and Marie-Yasmine Alidou show.
Smith and Alidou continued to lead the attack in the second half. The two of them were forcing the South Korean backline to make mistakes.
Alidou scored one of the best goals the Canadian women have scored this year. What a hit this was.
Smith was all over the Korean defenders. They had a hard time bringing her down as she kept bullying them, especially Hyok-Yung Lee.
Smith was like a bull running through the Korean defenders. The finish was perfect as well.
Alidou and Smith have proven they can start for Canada and could do so in 2025.
Canada’s attack looked ruthless.
For the first time in what feels like a thousand years, Canada’s attack didn’t look timid and against South Korea, they kept on pushing.
Sure, there was a set-piece goal by South Korea’s Lee Hyeok-Jung which saw some sleepy defending from Canada. However, they immediately got back to work and continued to bury South Korea.
Vannessa Gilles has had a phenomenal year for both Canada and Lyon. She probably is the favourite to win Canada’s Women’s Player of the Year. Not only has she been solid at the back with her tackles and clearances, but she can score too. Remember, she leads Canada in goals at this year’s summer Olympics in Paris.
Just minutes after Lee Hyeok-Jung’s headed goal, Gilles responded with one of her own. Anything you can do, I can do better.
Adrianna Leon has faced a lot of criticism, along with Canada’s other forwards for their lack of finishing. She did a good job of outmuscling the South Korean defenders to get Canada’s fifth goal.
Despite some nervy moments at the back and breaking the clean sheet, Canada looked fluid in their transitions and press and was finally clinical. That was very refreshing to see.
First caps
Three players got their first caps for Canada.
One of them assisted on Leon’s goal and that was Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy’s Jeneva Hernandez-Gray. The future is bright for the 18-year-old midfielder from Coquitlam, BC.
Nyah Rose also made her Canada debut. The 19-year-old forward from Markham, Ontario plays college soccer for the SMU Mustangs. To date, Rose has scored 16 goals in 29 games for the Mustangs. Unfortunately, Rose had to come one for Jayde Riviere who was dealing with a leg injury and only played 28 minutes.
The last debutant was Megan Reid. She has been one of the overlooked Canadian talents and the 28-year-old plays for Angel City FC of the NWSL. Reid quietly did her job with the backline and it was a job well done.
So long 2024
2024 was a whirlwind of a year for Canada. They were knocked out of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and She Believes Cup, both to the US on penalties. There was the drone scandal, and they had to power through the group stage at the Olympics. There was also the controversy surrounding now-former head coach Bev Priestman and members of her staff.
Despite a disappointing year, Canada went undefeated minus penalty kick shootouts.
What will 2025 look like? Who will be the new head coach? Will their scoring be consistent next year?
All those questions will be answered in the new year.
