Olivia Smith's late goal salvages draw for Canada against Denmark

Explainer

Olivia Smith scored an 84th-minute equalizer as Canada's women's soccer team drew 1-1 with Denmark in a friendly at Montreal's Stade Saputo on Friday.

"She is a difference maker," Canada coach Casey Stoney said of the Arsenal forward. "She's got ability in one-on-one situations and the ability to score goals, and she looked like she was having fun."

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The ninth-ranked Canadians later beat 12th-ranked Denmark 4-2 in an unofficial penalty shootout to cap the evening before a crowd of 10,162.

How did the match unfold?

Bayern Munich star and Danish captain Pernille Harder opened the scoring in the 24th minute, slotting home a pass from Amalie Vangsgaard for her 86th international goal.

Canada dominated possession at 69 per cent and held a 21-9 edge in shot attempts, with shots on target even at six apiece, but struggled to finish until Smith's late intervention.

The 22-year-old from Whitby, Ont., cut to her left foot and fired a shot across goal, beating Danish goalkeeper Alberte Vingum for her sixth senior international goal.

Julia Grosso almost scored a winner in injury time, hitting the crossbar before Vingum denied a close-range chance from Smith.

Canadian substitute keeper Sabrina D'Angelo then made a last-gasp save on a blistering volley from Janni Thomsen in a hectic ending.

What did Canada's coach and players say?

Stoney, who made 10 substitutions in the second half, said the game plan late was to get the ball to Smith.

"It was just about, how can we get her the ball as many times as possible? And how can we create the space for her to be able to get on the ball?" Stoney said.

She praised the team's chance creation but reiterated a familiar critique.

"We do need to be more clinical. I feel like a broken record, I keep saying that, but we do," Stoney said.

"But I would say we've deep-dived into quality chances created against these types of opponents over the last two years, and this probably would have been the highest that we've had in terms of that. And they defended their box really well, you have to give them credit."

Attacking midfielder Marie-Yasmine Alidou praised Smith's impact.

"Liv is incredible. I love playing with her. She's just special and she's so good on the ball," Alidou said pitchside. "She wants to make the difference and that's why it makes her the player she is."

Forward Delaney Baie Pridham also commented on Smith's goal.

"She's an unbelievable player," Pridham said. "Such an amazing shot, she hits those in training all the time, and obviously everyone knows how talented she is at club (level), so happy for her to bring that internationally and have that goal for her to get us tied up."

What was the context for this match?

It was Canada's first match since a 6-0 win over Costa Rica in June and its first on home soil since June 2025.

The team is still seeking its first victory against a top-15 opponent since Stoney took over in January 2025.

Canada played without veteran defender Vanessa Gilles, who withdrew from both friendlies after suffering a muscle injury with Bayern Munich. Fellow centre back Kadeisha Buchanan also missed the match despite joining Canada in camp.

The friendlies serve as a measuring stick ahead of Canada's quarterfinal against Panama on Nov. 28 at the CONCACAF W Championship, a qualifier for both the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Denmark has already qualified for this summer's World Cup after finishing atop its UEFA qualifying group ahead of Sweden, Serbia and Italy.

What other key chances occurred?

Canada nearly opened the scoring in the first minute when Alidou broke in on goal, only to have her close-range volley denied by starting Danish goalkeeper Maja Bay Østergaard.

Denmark almost capitalized on a gift in the 13th minute when Harder intercepted a risky pass from Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan inside the box. Sheridan recovered, however, diving to deny Olivia Holdt's strike.

The visitors scored on the counterattack 11 minutes later. Vangsgaard sprinted down the right flank before centring a pass through the legs of Canadian centre back Shelina Zadorsky and into the penalty area, where Harder scored.

Canadian captain Jessie Fleming nearly equalized in the 34th minute when she connected with a low cross from Nichelle Prince but sent her shot over the crossbar.

Fullback Janine Sonis couldn't convert a pair of chances in the second half, first having a free kick from the edge of the box denied before firing a low volley wide.

AFC Toronto forward Kaylee Hunter also had a look after Smith found her with a ball over the back line, but a Danish defender blocked her attempt.

Smith, who joined Arsenal from Liverpool last year for a then-world record transfer fee of one million pounds, scored the equalizer.

Canada now holds a 3-3-1 all-time record against Denmark. The two sides hadn't met since 2017 when Canada claimed a 1-0 victory at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

The two sides meet again Monday at Toronto's BMO Field, where longtime left back Allysha Chapman will make her 100th and final appearance for Canada.

With files from CBC News, Sportsnet and The Globe and Mail