(Frisco) Canada’s women’s soccer team paid dearly for their mistakes, losing 3-0 to Japan in their last SheBelieves Cup game on Wednesday.
The Canadians entered the tournament despite tensions with Soccer Canada and finished the four-team tournament with a 1–2–0 record. World number six Canada conceded three goals in a game for the first time since the 3-0 defeat against the USA in February 2020.
Japan (1-2-0), 11the of the world, took control of the game midway through the first half.
Kiko Seike opened the scorer in the 26th minutee minute of play when he slides the ball under goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo. It was Japan’s first goal of the tournament.
D’Angelo was injured on the game, the victim of a collision with Seiko while trying to immobilize the ball. Kailen Sheridan, who played the first two games of the tournament, took over in goal.
Yui Hasegawa increased the lead to 2-0 thanks to a penalty in the 41st minutee Minute.
Jun Endo completed the goal by hitting the target during the 77e Minute.
Canada’s record against Japan is now 4-8-4.
The Canadians entered the tournament under protest and threats of legal action against Soccer Canada.
Throughout the event, they wore their shirts inside out to hide the Soccer Canada logo. They also wore purple shirts, a color symbolizing the fight for gender equality, with the slogan “enough is enough”.
Canadian players want the same support and preparation for this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that the men enjoyed ahead of last fall’s World Cup in Qatar. The men’s and women’s teams have also asked Soccer Canada to open its financial books to explain budget cuts for their program in 2024.
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