Canada’s women’s national team conceded a penalty with just under half and hour remaining as they went down to a 2-1 defeat to defending European champions Germany in women’s international friendly action Wednesday at BC Place.
Germany went in front and carried a one-goal lead into the interval as Lena Lotzen scored from close range right before the half-hour mark.
Canada equalized in the second half right before the hour with Sophie Schmidt scoring her fourth goal of 2014 in fortuitous fashion. But Germany took the lead for good in the 65th minute with Simone Laudehr scoring from the penalty spot.
“A year out and a goal away from the European champions, I’ll take that,” said Canadian women’s national team head coach John Herdman, keeping his eyes on the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Germany got in front in the 29th minute as Simone Laudehr crossed in from the left side and Lotzen timed her run well to dash past the Canadian back line and convert from close range with Germany carrying the lead into the half.
There was a certain bit of luck involved as Canada equalized in the 54th minute but it was a deserved goal as Canada built an impressive attack. Matheson crossed in from the right and Schmidt didn’t get the kind of contact she likely would have hoped. Fortunately for her, the ball went off her shin and arced over German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
The teams would only remain tied for just over 10 minutes as Germany converted from the spot as Lotzen went down under a challenge from Buchanan. Laudehr stepped up and put her penalty high and straight down the middle with Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod diving to her right.
Canada will be back in action in October as their string of games against high-profile opposition continues with a pair of games against defending FIFA Women’s World Cup holders Japan. The first of the two games goes at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on October 25 before returning to Vancouver for the second game on October 28 at BC Place.
