TORONTO – Marta scored twice as Brazil beat a disappointing Canada 2-0 on Saturday in an international women’s soccer friendly.
It was Canada’s first game on home soil since last summer’s World Cup. And as homecomings go, it was decidedly shaky – admittedly against quality opposition – despite an enthusiastic crowd of 28,604 on a sunny afternoon at BMO Field.
The score did not do the game justice with Canada fortunate to lose by just two, although the Brazilians made it interesting late with some loose passages of play. Still the crowd willed the Canadian women on as the clock wound down, cheering every attack whether it was warranted or not.
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The two teams meet again Tuesday in Ottawa, with Canadian coach John Herdman no doubt looking for a smoother stop on the road to Rio.
Canada, ranked 10th in the world compared to No. 8 for Brazil, trailed 2-0 at the half, looked uncertain on defence and clumsy on offence Saturday. The poised Brazilians, meanwhile, defended well and showed flair and skill in cutting open the Canadians, who saw their four-game winning streak snapped.
In the buildup to the match, Canadian captain Christine Sinclair called Marta “still the one player in the women’s game that can almost single-handedly win a game for her country.” The 30-year-old forward lived up to that billing, taking advantage of Canadian errors.
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