SANTOS, BRAZIL –
Adriana Leon’s scoring goal gave Canada a 2-1 win over Brazil in a women’s soccer friendly on Friday, extending the Canadians’ winning streak to five games.
The seventh-ranked Canadians have now won nine of their last 10 games and are 11-2-3 in 2022, with losses going to the top-ranked Americans (1-0 in July in the CONCACAF W Championship final) and at No. 6 Spain (1-0 in February at the Arnold Clark Cup).
Ninth-ranked Brazil had won 10 straight, beating their opponents 34-1, with six of those wins coming at a Copa America championship in July. Brazil had not lost since a 3-1 decision against Sweden on June 28.
Canada and Brazil meet again on Tuesday in Sao Paulo.
Shelina Zadorsky also scored for Canada at the Estadio Urbano Caldeira, also known as Vila Belmiro, home of Santos FC and, at one point, Pelé.
Debinha replied for Brazil, who trailed 2-1 at the break but came out with a goal to start the second half. Canadian coach Bev Priestman sent experience from her bench to stabilize the ship.
Canada’s first two goals came from well-drilled set pieces.
Zadorsky rode high to head home a 22nd-minute Ashley Lawrence cross from a corner, after a Christine Sinclair header was cleared off the crossbar by Brazil keeper Lorena.
It was a fourth goal in 86 appearances for Canada for the Tottenham defender.
Leon made it 2-0 with a magnificent volley from a Jessie Fleming corner in the 29th minute. Sinclair headed the ball and Leon swung his left foot, hammering a low shot for his 28th goal for Canada – and his fifth in his last seven games.
Brazil responded in the 33rd minute with a fine goal from Debinha. After a Canadian turnover, Brazil headed towards the Canadian goal and Kerolin flicked the ball past Bianca St-Georges into Debinha’s path. Brazil’s star striker used his torso, perhaps with a small shoulder, to send the ball forward and then pushed it past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Canada improved to 9-9-9 against Brazil since their first meeting in 1996.
Their most recent encounter was at the Tokyo Olympics, where the Canadians prevailed 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the quarter-final match ended 0-0.
Canada also beat Brazil 2-1 in the bronze medal game at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
As in recent international windows, Priestman lacked players.
Janine Beckie (Portland), Vanessa Gilles (Olympique Lyonnais, France), Deanne Rose (Reading, England), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash) and collegiate players Simi Awujo and Zoe Burns (USC), Jade Rose (Harvard) and Jayde Rivière (University of Michigan) are all unavailable.
Sinclair, Lawrence and Gabrielle Carle, absent during the October window which saw victories against Morocco (29th) (4-0) and Argentina (2-0), n°76, were back in the group for Brazil matches. Canada won two friendlies in September in Australia (1-0 and 2-1).
Sheridan started in net behind Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan, Zadorsky and St-Georges. Fleming and Julia Grosso formed a deep midfield duo behind Nichelle Prince, Sinclair and Leon with Evelyne Viens up front.
The Canadian starting 11 has totaled 1,028 caps, including 318 for Sinclair, 39.
Viens went close in the ninth minute after a fine through ball from Fleming. She went past the keeper but the angle of the goal was too tight when she collected the ball.
Sheridan was called into action in the 14th minute, stopping a shot from Ary after a Brazilian attack down the left flank. Ary forced another save later in the half.
Debinha was just high from a curling free kick in the 45th minute after Buchanan was booked for beating Brazil’s Adriana just outside the box. Seconds later, Lorena stopped a Sinclair shot that deflected off a defender.
Jordyn Huitema and Carle replaced Canada to start the second half. Desiree Scott, Cloe Lacasse and Sophie Schmidt followed later in the half.
Amanda Allen, 17, earned her first senior cap on the bench in the 71st minute.
Sheridan had to deflect a low cross in the 54th minute as the Canadian defense was breached. Minutes later, the Canadian keeper had to rise high to fend off another long-range flare from Ary and Canada struggled to clear the ball from the following corner.
Sheridan needed treatment in the 72nd minute after a Brazilian stepped on his forearm as the two grappled for the ball.
Huitema fell in the penalty area in the 82nd minute after becoming entangled with Brazilian Fernanda, but there was no appeal.
The 41st-ranked Canadian men were in action earlier in the day, rallying to level Bahrain 2-2 in a World Cup warm-up in Manama. Canada was missing some of its best talent, with European clubs still in action.
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