Canada were held to a 1-1 draw by Women’s World Cup newcomers, the Netherlands on Monday in a result that secures the hosts top spot in Group A but leaves the Dutch with an agonising wait to see if they get a best third place finishers slot. An early Ashley Lawrence goal had appeared to be enough to give the Maple Leafs all three points, before it was cancelled out late on by Kirsten Van De Ven.
Canada started the game strongly, with Sophie Schmidt looping a header onto the crossbar in the opening exchanges, before finding the back of the net in the tenth minute through midfielder Lawrence, with her first ever international goal. The 20-year-old pounced on a deflected shot, which fell to her around the penalty spot, and struck a firm side footed effort low and true past Loes Geurts in the Dutch goal.
The Canadian defensive unit looked a little shaky at moments but the Orange Lionesses were unable to take advantage. Most glaringly when striker Danielle Van De Donk totally fluffed her lines from close range, allowing the ball to just hit her and loop straight to Canadian keeper Erin McLeod, wasting a golden opportunity to level the score.
Much of the second half was a scrappy and uneventful affair, with goal scoring chances few and far between, until the last ten minutes. When McLeod would once again show her value to the host nation, as she saved well from a one-on-one against striker Manon Melis with only six minutes remaining.
Yet, this spirited Dutch team were not to be denied and with only three minutes left they levelled the score. Melis picked up the ball in midfield and drove at the heart of the Canadian back four, before playing in veteran striker Van De Ven, who had come on as a substitute, who took a touch before powerfully firing home to send the Dutch into ecstatic celebrations.
It was the first goal that Canada had conceded in the tournament and it stunned the 45,000+ crowd in Montreal. Yet, it was a deserved reward for the Netherlands after an even battle over the 90 minutes.
A solitary point was still enough to ensure that Canada finished as Group A champions.
As for the Dutch, although their fate is out of their hands, the four points they managed to record will likely see them advance as one of the best third place finishers but they’ll need to up their game considerably to progress further at the business end of this tournament.
