POST-GAME ANALYSIS: CanWNT cruise to 5-1 win over Korea Republic to round out 2024

The Canadian women’s national team concluded 2024 with a strong performance, defeating South Korea 5-1 in an international friendly on Tuesday in Murcia, Spain.

Olivia Smith, Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Adriana Leon and Vanessa Gilles all scored for Canada, while their fifth came from a Lim Seon-joo own goal. Korea’s lone goal came from Hyok-Yung Lee. Meanwhile, three players made their senior international debuts for Canada.

Both sides heavily rotated their starting XIs, with Canada coming off a 0-0 draw against Iceland on Friday, Nov. 29, and South Korea changing all 11 players from their 5-0 loss to Spain.

Canadian interim head coach Cindy Tye, meanwhile, gave a first-ever cap to dual-national central defender Megan Reid of Angel City FC, while bringing in Gabrielle Carle at right back, Emma Regan in midfield for just her fourth cap alongside Jessie Fleming. Up front, Olivia Smith and Deanne Rose were given the start after coming off the bench against Iceland.

Canada dominated the ball through the early stages, with the confident Smith at the centre of several half-chances through aggressive and direct attacking play. Especially in moving the ball in transition, Canada looked rapid and decisive, far more than they did against Iceland.

Unsurprisingly, it was the Liverpool attacker who created the opener for Canada in the 22nd minute. After taking a lovely flicked pass from Fleming, Smith burst into the box and saw her attempted cross deflected into the goal by Korean defender Lim Seon-joo. 

Just three minutes later, Smith forced an excellent save from Korean goalkeeper Kyung-Hee Kim with a vicious strike from the top of the box. Janine Beckie then hit the crossbar on a chipped half-volley in the 26th minute as Canada chased a second.

Canada had one more chance as Deanne Rose broke down the left and sent a shot at Kim from out wide, but it was rather comfortably gathered. The half ended with Canada up just 1-0, despite 10 attempted shots, four of which were on target.

Tye made a trio of changes to the Canadian squad at the half, bringing on Lysianne Proulx, Shelina Zadorsky and Jayde Rivière.

South Korea made just one change, also switching goalkeepers with Yoo-Kyung Min coming into the match. She was instantly called into action as a poor backpass just a minute into the half caused chaos in the Korean box, dealing with it well enough to dispel any Canadian danger.

In the 52nd minute, Canada took the lead with an exclamation point. After taking a pass from Vanessa Gilles outside the box, Alidou turned and sent a stunning strike goalward that looped over top of Min and into the net. It was her second Canadian goal in three matches.

Just five minutes later, Canada added another. Again, it was Smith, who pushed her way through a sea of Korean defenders before firing a low strike across goal into and into the net. This time, there was no doubt that it was Smith’s goal, her third for her country at the senior level.

Both sides made a bunch of changes in the 62nd minute, with Canada bringing on Adriana Leon, and 18-year-old midfielder Jeneva Hernandez Gray for her senior national team debut.

In the 74th minute, halftime substitute Rivière was forced off with injury, replaced by Nyah Rose, who at 19 was making her national team debut.

Two minutes later, South Korea spoiled the Canadian clean sheet. The initial delivery off a corner kick struck the crossbar, and Canada switched off defensively to allow Lee Hyeok-Jung to head home to cut the score to 3-1.

Canada, however, responded almost instantly. A fantastic year for Gilles continued, as a lovely looping cross into the box from Smith on a free kick was headed into the bottom corner by the Canadian central defender to make it 4-1.

For good measure, Canada added one more in second-half stoppage time. Hernandez Gray won the ball back inside the box, sending it into the path of Leon who turned and made it five for Canada.

It was a promising way to end the year for the Canadians, with a lot of their depth options showing well, including Regan delivering a solid performance at the base of midfield.

Further players, like Smith and Alidou, are making strong cases to be considered as starters for this team going forward even when they are at full strength in 2025.

Box Score

Lineups

Canada: Sheridan (Proulx 46′); Lawrence, Reid (Zadorsky 46′), Gilles, Carle; Regan, Fleming, Alidou (Hernandez Gray 62′); Beckie (Rivière 46′ (N. Rose 74′)), D. Rose (Leon 62′), Smith

South Korea: K.Kim (Min 46′); Hyun, H.Lee, Seon-joo (J.Kim 77′), Choo; Noh (E.Y Lee 62′), Y.Lee (S.Kim 62′); M.A. Lee (So-yun 62′), Jung, Han; Choi (J.E Lee 62′)

Goals

22′ — Lim Seon-joo (South Korea) (Own Goal)
53′ — Marie-Yasmin Alidou (Canada)
58′ — Olivia Smith (Canada)
76′ — Hyok-Yung Lee (South Korea)
78′ — Vanessa Gilles (Canada)
90+2′ — Adriana Leon (Canada) 

Discipline

86′ — Ashley Lawrence (Canada)
89′ — Olivia Smith (Canada) 

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