Canada drops 4-3 decision to Denmark in women's soccer friendly in Toronto

Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, left, and teammate Janine Sonis react after Denmark's Olivia Holdt, not shown, scored her country's third goal during an international women's soccer friendly in Toronto on Oct. 12, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — Olivia Holdt scored twice and had an assist to lead Denmark to a 4-3 victory over Canada in a women’s international soccer friendly on Monday at BMO Field.

Pernille Harder and Janni Thomsen also tallied for the visitors, who blitzed the hosts with three goals in a nine-minute span in the opening half.

Olivia Smith, Evelyne Viens and Delaney Pridham scored for Canada in front of an announced crowd of 12,112 on a warm, mostly sunny afternoon at the lakefront stadium.

The teams played to a 1-1 draw on Friday in Montreal. Smith scored a late equalizer for the hosts in that game and Canada won the unofficial shootout 4-2.

On Monday, the ninth-ranked Canadians started with a 4-2-3-1 formation while the 12th-ranked Danes went with a 3-4-3. Kailen Sheridan started in net for Canada and Jessie Fleming wore the captain’s armband.

Pridham opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Kaylee Hunter headed the ball low into a packed penalty area. Pridham swiveled and beat goalkeeper Freja Thisgaard for her first goal with the women’s senior team.

Canada kept the pressure on and was nearly rewarded moments later when Smith’s shot from outside the area glanced off Thisgaard and hit the post.

Defensive miscues contributed to the Denmark scoring surge.

Holdt took possession of a loose ball after Canada’s Julia Grosso couldn’t corral a pass from defender Kadeisha Buchanan at midfield. The Danish forward took a few strides inside the halfway line and launched a shot that sailed over Sheridan’s head and bounced into the net in the 24th minute.

An errant pass attempt by Buchanan moments later created another turnover. A strike from Sofie Bredgaard hit the crossbar but Denmark controlled the rebound and Harder beat Sheridan in the 27th minute.

In the 32nd minute, Ashley Lawrence’s pass to Jade Rose was turned over down low and the ball found its way to an open Holdt, who earned her first international brace.

The tempo picked up in the second half as Pridham and Buchanan came off for Viens and Shelina Zadorsky.

Canada cut the deficit in the 49th minute after some heady work by Smith, who found Viens at the top of the area. Viens made a sliding shot attempt that deflected high off a defender and bounced off the grass and into the top corner.

Thomsen restored Denmark’s two-goal cushion in the 61st minute as she coolly slotted a ball between two defenders and past Sheridan.

Smith scored from outside the box in the 70th minute. Her strike was misplayed by Thisgaard, who got down low to gather the ball but had it roll between her legs and over the line.

Casey Stoney is still seeking her first victory against a top-15 opponent since taking over as Canada’s head coach in January 2025.

The friendlies served as a measuring stick ahead of Canada’s opening match against No. 54 Panama at the CONCACAF W Championship on Nov. 28.

The tournament is a qualifier for both the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Denmark has already qualified for the World Cup after finishing atop its UEFA qualifying group.

Left back Allysha Chapman came on in the 89th minute for her 100th and final international appearance for Canada. She was feted during a ceremony after the game.

Fleming, Buchanan and Lawrence were honoured before the game for reaching 150 career international appearances. At halftime, Melissa Tancredi was acknowledged for her induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

Canada fell to 3-4-1 in eight all-time meetings against Denmark.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press