The Canadian Women’s National Team suffered a 4-3 loss to Denmark in a Thanksgiving Day friendly at BMO Field.
Heading into the sides’ second meeting in three days, CANWNT head coach Casey Stoney made seven changes to Canada’s previous starting XI, opting for the front three (Olivia Smith, Delaney Baie Pridham and Kaylee Hunter) that excelled in the second half of Friday’s match.
Fortunately for Stoney, all three attackers picked up right where they left off in Montréal, with Hunter and Pridham combining to open the scoring inside 10 minutes.
After Denmark failed to clear a Canada corner, the ball floated back into Hunter, who headed down into the path of Pridham. The Ottawa Rapid FC star swivelled away from her defender before finding the bottom-left corner for her first international goal.
Pridham could barely contain her delight as she sprinted towards the crowd in celebration.
CANADA STRIKES FIRST 🇨🇦 Delaney Baie Pridham scores her first international goal giving Canada the lead! #CanWNT https://t.co/bNrHti69bV
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
For her part, Smith conjured up two brilliant chances in the space of 60 seconds. Her first attempt was saved at the near-post, while her second was a low, long-range strike which deflected off the goalkeeper’s fingertips and onto the post.
However, Canada’s front-footed start was undone by a moment of sheer brilliance from Olivia Holdt in the 23rd minute. The Danish winger dispossessed Julia Grosso in midfield, caught Kailen Sheridan off her line and scored from the edge of the centre circle to pull Denmark level.
DENMARK SCORES FROM THE HALFWAY LINE 🤯 Olivia Holdt catches Kailen Sheridan off her line and strikes it from distance. 🇩🇰 #CanWNT https://t.co/D5D8iiCdo5
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
Then, seemingly woken up by the equalizer, Denmark added a second just four minutes later to turn the match on its head. Sofie Bredgaard struck the crossbar in the build-up, only for the rebound to fall to Holdt, who played a first-touch pass to set up Pernille Harder’s second goal in two matches against Canada.
Pernille Harder with the side-netting finish gives Denmark the lead in Toronto! 🇩🇰 #CanWNT https://t.co/0uqxB0iQhL
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
Still, Denmark weren't done as they made it 3-1 after another giveaway from Canada and more excellent attacking work from Holdt and Harder.
A poor pass from Ashley Lawrence gave away possession on the edge of the box, and this time, it was Harder who provided the assist as Holdt completed her brace.
Denmark adds a third goal and it's a brace for Olivia Holdt! 🇩🇰 #CanWNT https://t.co/5dImcZ1W3p
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
Canada got one back in the opening four minutes of the second half after Smith picked up the ball in the final third and played an incisive pass through to half-time substitute Évelyne Viens.
Viens’ shot took a fortunate deflection off the defender’s sliding challenge and looped into the back of the net.
CANADA PULLS ONE BACK 🇨🇦 A fortunate bounce sees the ball end up in the back of Denmark's net! #CanWNT https://t.co/xiwYLYR3OM
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
But, in an all-too-familiar sight, Les Rouges were caught out in transition again as Janni Thomsen had Canada’s defenders backpedalling, giving her enough time and space to pick out the bottom-left corner and regain Denmark’s two-goal advantage.
Janni Thomsen gets onto her left foot and slots home Denmark's fourth goal of the match. 🇩🇰 #CanWNT https://t.co/goFG92PKGX
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
Stoney made a handful of changes as the half went on, yet Smith continued to be Canada’s brightest and most dangerous player. The 22-year-old repeatedly opened up Denmark's backline with some excellent movement on and off the ball.
Eventually, Smith’s persistence paid off as she fired a low-driven shot through the legs of Danish goalkeeper Freja Thisgaard to make it 4-3.
It's her second goal of the international window following the equalizer at Stade Saputo.
WHO ELSE? 🇨🇦 An error from the keeper Freja Thisgaard sees Olivia Smith score Canada's third goal of the match! #CanWNT https://t.co/NeaJ7B0tfg
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 12, 2026
Finally, with just a minute of the 90 remaining, Stoney brought on Canadian veteran Allysha Chapman for her 100th and final CANWNT appearance.
Chapman admitted after the match that she wanted to reach 100 appearances before retiring from international football. And fittingly, she was honoured in an on-pitch ceremony after doing so.
It was a bittersweet moment for Chapman as Canada were unable to come away with the result they were looking for.
“I think we have to be disappointed,” Stoney said in her post-match press conference. “We lost the game. We conceded four goals.”
“We’re giving up to get,” she continued. “We’re scoring more goals, but we’re giving up more opportunities… that’s something I need to take responsibility for.”
Canada will return to action on November 28, when they face Panama in the Concacaf W Championship. It will be a crucial window for Stoney’s side, with qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the LA28 Olympic Games up for grabs.
