Scotland were close to holding Canada to a draw at the Algarve Cup, while Poland and Portugal posted impressive results.
Group A: Scotland 0-1 Canada
Group B: Poland 3-0 Spain
Group C: China 1–3 Norway
Group D: Portugal 2-1 Sweden
A penalty from Canada captain Christine Sinclair proved to be the difference as Scotland found themselves edged out 1-0 by their opponents in their Algarve Cup opener, reports scottishfa.co.uk.
An Erin Cuthbert volley forced a save from Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod, while Scotland’s Claire Emslie produced a last-minute block to deny Allysha Chapman.
Just moments later, the Canadians forced Lee Alexander into her first save of the afternoon, Jordyn Huitema’s shot from close range comfortably gathered by the Scotland goalkeeper.
Nicola Docherty saw her effort sailed just over the Canadian crossbar, Sinclair then fired high at the other end before Lee Alexander did well to deny Jordyn Huitema the opening goal
In the second half, Diana Matheson was thwarted by Docherty’s diving block and Alexander rushed off her line to deny Adriana Leon on the follow-up.
Cuthbert flashed a shot just wide from 40 yards but with 80 minutes gone Ashley Lawrence was brought down in the penalty area by Chloe Arthur, allowing Sinclair to fire the resulting spot-kick past Alexander for her 179th goal in international football.
Scotland threatened an injury-time equaliser but Caroline Weir’s inswinging free-kick was hit just the wrong side of the post by Rachel Corsie.
Shelley Kerr’s side next meet Iceland on Monday, a match that will determine the final standings ahead of next week’s seeding matches.
Scotland: Alexander; Arthur, Corsie (capt), Beattie, Docherty; Weir, Little; Emslie (Ness 89), Cuthbert, Lauder (Arnot 58); Ross (C Murray 58).
Subs not used: Lynn, Fife, Smith, Love, Crichton, J Murray, Fr Brown, Harrison, Fi Brown.
Canada: McLeod; Schmidt, Buchanan, Zadorsky; Beckie, Scott (Grosso 75), Lawrence, Fleming, Chapman (Matheson 45, Carle 90+1); Huitema (Leon 65), Sinclair (capt).
Subs not used: Labbé, Sheridan, Woeller, Agnew, Hellstrom, Quinn, Rose, Prince.
Poland sent Spain crashing to a 3-0 defeat in Group B, Paulina Dudek and Patrycja Balcerzak on target in the first 45, Weronika Zawistowska completing the scoring 4 minutes after the restart.
Three first-half goals saw Norway victors over China, who managed a last-minute consolation in the Group C game. Isabell Herlovsen struck inside the first 10 minutes and an own-goal by Wu Haiyan was followed up by Emilie Haavi, before Wang Shanshan’s late reply.
Portugal pulled off a 2-1 victory over Sweden in Group D, with all the goals coming in the last quarter of the match. Nathalie Bjorn put the Swedes ahead but Dolores Silva soon levelled and Claudia Neto won it in stoppage-time.
