Canada took it on the chin for a second time in the October international window, beaten 1-0 by the 11th-ranked Netherlands in a women’s soccer friendly Tuesday in Nijmegen.
Lynn Wilms scored for the classy Dutch, who led the dance most of the entire evening. The home side went ahead in the 28th minute and could have added to the lead had it been more clinical.
The Dutch were faster, more creative, more aggressive and better connected for most of the game. Ninth-ranked Canada offered a little more in the second half, but the Dutch kept coming.
Fullback Jayde Riviere was the best of the Canadians, posing a threat down the right flank.
It was a third straight loss for Canada, which has not scored in 274 minutes since a 4-1 win over Costa Rica on June 27. And it marked the Canadians’ second loss to the Netherlands in 15 meetings (9-2-4).
The Canadian women, missing some key pieces through injury, were coming off a 1-0 loss Friday to No. 24 Switzerland in Lucerne. They were blanked 3-0 by the second-ranked United States on July 2 in Washington, D.C.
Canada head coach Casey Stoney had warned the Swiss and Dutch were “competition-ready right now,” thanks to the “very competitive” UEFA Women’s Championship in July. In contrast, she noted Canada’s last competitive game was Aug. 2, 2024, a penalty shootout loss to Germany in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
The Canadian women close out the year in the November international window with a two-match series against No. 8 Japan, with games in Nagasaki on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.
As expected, the Dutch played a possession game — they had 70 per cent of the ball in the first half — while looking for holes in the Canadian defence. They found a big one in the 28th minute.
The Canadian defence was torn apart after a slick passing buildup that ended with Esmee Brugts dribbling past Canadian defender Jade Rose and sending a perfect pass just past the outstretched leg of centre back Shelina Zadorsky. The ball found Wilms alone in front of goal for a simple tap-in with ‘keeper Sabrina D’Angelo, a clubmate of Wilms at England’s Aston Villa, trying unsuccessfully to get back in position.
Stoney made three changes to her starting lineup with D’Angelo, fullback Ashley Lawrence and Jordyn Huitema slotting in for Kailen Sheridan, Gabby Carle and the injured Olivia Smith.
One of Canada’s rising stars on the women’s national soccer team Olivia Smith was injured Friday in a friendly against Switzerland and required a golf cart to be removed from the pitch.
It was an experienced lineup with the Canadian starting lineup going into the match with a combined 945 caps. Lawrence earned her 150th cap with captain Jessie Fleming collecting cap No. 149.
Canada could not take advantage of its few chances.
An Adriana Leon goal in the 62nd minute was wiped off the board for a clear offside. Dutch goalkeeper Lize Kop, who plays her club football for England’s Tottenham, made a fine save to tip a Janine Sonis shot over the bar in the 72nd minute.
Another Canada goal was ruled offside in stoppage time.
Canada sent on Carle, Nichelle Prince, Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Holly Ward, Evelyne Viens and Marie Levasseur in the second half.
Canada was missing injured goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx (Juventus), defenders Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea) and Vanessa Gilles (Bayern Munich) and midfielder Simi Awujo (Manchester United).
Smith has returned to England’s Arsenal for treatment after suffering a hip pointer against Switzerland. Teenage striker Kaylee Hunter, who arrived in camp carrying a knock, is back with AFC Toronto.
Closer matchup in recent years
The Canadians fell to 6-4-1 under Stoney, a former England captain.
Canada and the Dutch played to a scoreless draw the last time they met at the Tournoi de France in March 2020. The Dutch won 2-1 the game before that, at the 2019 World Cup in France, a victory that snapped Canada’s 12-game unbeaten streak (9-0-3) against the Netherlands.
They drew 1-1 at the 2015 World Cup in Montreal.
The Netherlands failed to reach the knockout stage at Euro 2025, finishing third in their group after beating Wales (3-0) and losing to England (4-0) and France (5-2).
The Dutch are coached by Arjan Veurink, who took over the team following the European championship. Veurink was an assistant coach under Sarina Wiegman from 2017 to 2021, following Wiegman when she took over England.
He returned to the Dutch fold as head coach after England’s European title. The visiting Dutch played Poland to a scoreless draw Friday in Gdansk in his first game at the helm.
Sherida Spitse captained the Netherlands in her international swan song. It was cap No. 248 for the 35-year-old Ajax defender who made her international debut in August 2006.
She came off the field in the 48th minute to loud applause from the fans at Goffertstadion, the home stadium for Dutch top-tier side NEC Nijmegen, and a guard of honour from both teams.
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