A capacity crowd of 5,611 packed Langford鈥檚 Starlight Stadium on Tuesday night, braving a crisp spring evening to watch Canada鈥檚 women鈥檚 national team face Argentina in the second match of their two-game series.
Despite dominating nearly every statistical category, the Canadians fell 1-0 to a gritty and opportunistic Argentinian side.
The seventh-ranked Canadians, who comfortably defeated Argentina 3-0 four nights earlier at Vancouver鈥檚 BC Place, couldn鈥檛 replicate the clinical finishing that defined their first meeting. Canada outshot Argentina 18-6 and controlled 70 per cent of possession but were undone by a single first-half goal and resolute defending.
That goal came in the 34th minute when Yamila Rodriguez delivered a sharp-angled cross that slipped past Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D鈥橝ngelo. It was one of Argentina鈥檚 few forays into the attacking third 鈥� but it proved decisive.
The result marked Canada鈥檚 first loss under new head coach Casey Stoney, who expressed frustration with her team鈥檚 execution in the final third.
鈥淔irst of all, bitterly disappointed,鈥� Stoney said post-match. 鈥淭here were elements of the game that we controlled, and others that we didn鈥檛. I thought we lost a bit of midfield control in the first half. We got into the final third, but there was a lack of decision-making and execution.鈥�
The physicality of the match stood out, with Argentina collecting several yellow cards. Margarita Gimenez Caneva, Evelyn Sof铆a, Dom铆nguez Acuna, Vanina Ail茅n Preininger, and Rodriguez were all cautioned.
Canada continued to apply pressure in the second half, generating several set-piece chances, but couldn鈥檛 solve Argentinian goalkeeper Solana Pereyra 鈥� until she was sent off in the 77th minute. Pereyra came off her line to thwart a Canadian counterattack, handling the ball outside the penalty area and receiving a straight red card.
Despite playing the final 13 minutes with a player advantage, Canada couldn鈥檛 break through. Replacement goalkeeper Renata Masciarelli was called into action quickly and held firm to preserve the shutout.
Canadian captain Shelina Zadorsky admitted the team didn鈥檛 execute to their standard, particularly in the opening half.
鈥淚 think, particularly in the first half, it wasn't good enough for us, and we have to be better than that on the ball," Zadorsky said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a humbling experience, but we always come back fighting stronger.鈥�
Zadorsky also touched on the significance of playing in Victoria, where national team appearances remain rare.
鈥淎ny time we play in Canada, it means so much. No matter where it is, part of our heart is there. When we come out west, we're always greeted by really nice people,鈥� she said.
Vancouver鈥檚 Julia Grosso echoed that sentiment, reflecting on what it meant to play close to home and represent British Columbia.
鈥淚t means the world to me to play here. I had Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt as mentors, and I vividly remember watching them because they were from B.C.," Grosso said. 鈥淚 hope to be the same for other young girls in the crowd and hopefully have a little impact on them.鈥�
Grosso, who scored in Friday鈥檚 game in Vancouver, also highlighted the team鈥檚 continued integration of younger players. One of those was 19-year-old Kayla Briggs, who earned her first career start on Tuesday.
鈥淜ayla started and did really well, which gets me excited for the future,鈥� Grosso added.
Coach Stoney agreed, singling out both Briggs and Holly Ward as positives on a tough night.
鈥淜ayla鈥檚 looked really good in training, so I wanted to get her in, and I thought she held herself really well,鈥� Stoney said. 鈥淚t was an opportunity to change the team and look at some different players, and I think that was a positive with Kayla and Holly.鈥�
The match marked Canada鈥檚 third appearance at Starlight Stadium, where they previously played to a 2-2 draw with Jamaica in 2022 and defeated Australia 5-0 in 2023 during Christine Sinclair鈥檚 farewell tour.
Canada's next scheduled game is an international friendly against the U.S.A., on July 2 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
