Fighting a valiant rearguard action, Canada was seconds away from a win over World Cup champion Spain on Friday.
But Spain’s relentless attack paid dividends in the 89th minute when substitute Cristina Martín-Prieto headed home a cross from Ona Batlle to lift the third-ranked Spanish women into a 1-1 draw with sixth-ranked Canada in an international soccer friendly.
Canada, despite being outplayed, had gone ahead in the 49th minute through substitute Marie-Yasmine Alidou.
Spain had 73 per cent possession, outshot Canada 32-5 (10-1 in shots on target) and had 10 corners to Canada’s one.
“We’re proud of the defensive performance,” said interim technical assistant Katie Collar, who along with former Canadian international Diana Matheson represented Canada at the postgame news conference.
“Overall, what an experience,” she added. “Travelling to Spain, playing a top team. And seeing the defensive performance from the group. I think there’s a lot of things that we can learn from the opportunity. But proud to be able to come out with quite a defensive performance.”
Friday’s game was the first for the Canadians since losing a penalty shootout to Germany in the Aug. 3 quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics.
Assistant coach Andy Spence, as he did in Paris, ran the Canadian team in the absence of head coach Bev Priestman, who is serving a one-year suspension from soccer by FIFA in the wake of the Olympic drone-spying scandal.
Collar, head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite team, and Matheson, co-founder and chief growth officer of the fledgling Northern Super League, were added to the coaching staff in interim roles for the game.
They joined Spence and fellow assistant coaches Jen Herst and Neil Wood in the coaching ensemble.
With an independent review into the spy scandal ongoing by Sonia Regenbogen – from the law firm of Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark – Canada Soccer elected to use Collar and Matheson as its spokeswomen around the Spain game.
Priestman remains on the Canada Soccer payroll pending the review.
The home side outshot Canada 16-4 (3-0 in shots on target) in the first 45 minutes.
But Canada went ahead early in the second half after Evelyne Viens pounced on a heavy touch by defender María Méndez. Viens headed towards goal and, attracting two defenders, found an open Alidou whose shot from the edge of the penalty box beat goalkeeper Cata Coll.
It was the first senior goal for Alidou in her third appearance. The 29-year-old from Montreal, who plays her club football in Portugal for Benfica, was a late call-up to camp because of an injury to Cloe Lacasse.
Canada and Spain had met three times before, with Spain holding a 2-0-1 edge. Alidou’s goal was Canada’s first against Spain.
It was 13 C, feeling like 9 C, for the 10 p.m. local time kickoff at the 11,58-capacity Estadio Francisco de la Hera in southwest Spain.
Canada soon found itself under the cosh with Spain showing its teeth early. Mariona Caldentey shot wide in the third minute after a pretty buildup and Teresa Abelleira forced a diving one-handed save from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan with a long-range shot in the 15th minute.
At the other end, Janine Beckie rolled a long low shot just wide in the 18th minute with Coll out of position after an errant clearance attempt.
Abelleira tried to catch Sheridan out with a long-distance chip that went just over the crossbar in the 24th minute. A minute later, Alexia Putellas’ hard shot off a corner hit defender Kadeisha Buchanan and bounced off the crossbar.
Canada had a gilt-edged chance in the 43rd minute when Olivia Smith put Viens behind the Spanish defence, but Viens’ rushed shot was off-target.
Alidou, Julia Grosso and goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo came on to start the second half for Canada. Nichelle Prince and Adriana Leon followed off the bench.
The Canadian defence bent but did not break as Spain kept coming. D’Angelo made a fine save in the 81st minute to deny a hot shot from Putellas and a minute later stopped Martin-Prieto’s effort.
But Spain kept attacking and was finally rewarded.
Canada fielded a strong starting 11, a group that went into the game with a combined 816 caps. Viens, Smith and Jordyn Huitema started up front.
Canada was missing the injured Quinn, Sydney Collins, Jayde Riviere and Lacasse.
Putellas, the Barcelona captain, led the Spanish side, which was missing Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí and Barca teammate Irene Paredes, both of whom were rested for an international window that sees Spain play No. 14 Italy on Tuesday.
The Spanish starting 11 featured five players from Real Madrid, four from Barcelona and two from England’s Arsenal.