RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: CanWNT suffer third straight defeat with 1-0 loss to Netherlands

The Canadian women’s national team has lost three matches for the first time since 2019, falling 1-0 to the Netherlands in Nijmegen to end a frustrating two-game European road trip for Casey Stoney’s side. It’s also three matches in a row without scoring for Les Rouges, after also losing 3-0 to the United States in Washington, D.C. back in July. 

Following a loss to Switzerland on Friday, Casey Stoney made three changes to her lineup. Ashley Lawrence came in at left back for Gabrielle Carle, Sabrina D’Angelo started in net with Kailen Sheridan leaving camp for personal reasons, and Jordyn Huitema started in place of the injured Olivia Smith. For Lawrence, it was her 150th appearance for Canada, becoming just the seventh player to reach that milestone – with Jessie Fleming now up to 149 as well. 

D’Angelo was almost called into action at the culmination of an end-to-end first 15 minutes. An inswinging corner from the Dutch forced her to come out of her net, but in the end both sides watched it bounce out of play for a goal kick and around the far post – close to an Olimpico. A few minutes later, Lineth Beerensteyn nearly caught D’Angelo off guard as she headed a shot just wide of the mark following an undetected run into the box.

The Dutch continued to build momentum, and Beerensteyn had another opportunity to score that she wasn’t able to take advantage of. Wieke Kaptein beat Ashley Lawrence to the ball with a lung-busting sprint before playing it laterally to the Wolfsburg striker, who didn’t hit her shot cleanly and watched it dribble left of the net. 

The hosts finally found their breakthrough in the 28th minute. Esmee Brugts danced between a pair of defenders before playing a low pass to the back post, where Lynn Wilms snuck in behind Lawrence unnoticed and was in position for an easy tap-in to open the scoring. 

GOAL 🇳🇱

CanWNT 🇨🇦 go down 1-0 to Netherlands as Lynn Wilms beats her Aston Villa teammate Sabrina D'Angelo to open the scoring

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— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) October 28, 2025

Canada’s first shot of the game came in the 39th minute. Jayde Riviere made a long run down the right flank with the ball before picking out Adriana Leon in the box with a cutback pass along the ground. Leon struck a low shot with her first touch, but goalkeeper Lize Kop was able to make an easy grab. 

Vivianne Miedema had an opportunity to double her side’s lead moments later, but the country’s all-time leading scorer fired a cross-goal shot low and wide. At the other end of the pitch Huitema sent a shot over the bar after making a run behind the Dutch defenders, and a frustrating and quiet half from the Canadian attack would wind down without a goal. 

Play was paused a few minutes into the second half for Dutch captain Sherida Spitse to walk off the pitch for the 248th and final time at the international level – with both teams forming a guard of honour as she was replaced by Veerle Buurman, a 19-year-old making just her tenth appearance for the country. 

Fleming got a shot on target around the hour mark for Canada, bouncing a shot right at Kop after a poor set piece routine. Janine Sonis' delivery and a couple of ensuing errors failed to create a better opportunity for the side, as Canada again let the Dutch off the hook for giving them a chance to create something. A few minutes later Leon swept the ball into the back of the net from close range, but she was offside and it was disallowed. 

Both Huitema and Damaris Egurrola missed headers at either end of the pitch as Canada looked for an equalizer and the Netherlands looked for some wiggle room, but Huitema couldn’t get clean contact and watched it go wide while Egurrola sent hers over the target. Sonis curled a shot on goal that forced Kop to push it over the crossbar in the 72nd minute, which led to another chance for Canada from a corner. Huitema rose above everyone to get on the end of it, but again sent her header off target. 

The hosts nearly scored their second in the 83rd minute as Victoria Pelova turned and fired a shot at D’Angelo’s net from close range, but Julia Grosso lunged in and blocked the shot with the toe of her boot. 

Nichelle Prince put the ball into the back of the net again in second half stoppage time after coming off the bench, but there was an offside on the play and the goal was disallowed -- to the dismay of the Canadian head coach. 

The final whistle blew shortly after, assigning Canada a three-game losing streak for the first time since losing four in a row between June and November 2019 under previous head coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller. 

Box Score:

Lineups:

Canada: D’Angelo; Riviere (Levasseur 85’), Rose, Zadorsky, Lawrence (Carle 65’); Fleming (Alidou 65’), Regan (Viens 85’), Grosso, Sonis (Ward 74’); Huitema, Leon (Prince 65’)

Netherlands: Kop; Wilms, Spitse (Buurman 49’), Janssen (Dijkstra 81’), Olislagers; Groenen, Kaptein (Egurrola 63’); Beerensteyn (Leuchter 46’), Roord, Brugts (Keukelaar 63’); Miedema (Pelova 63’)

Goals:

28’ – Lynn Wilms (Netherlands)

Discipline:

4’ – Yellow: Shelina Zadorsky (Canada)

Player of the Match:

Lynn Wilms, Netherlands

The Dutch right back put in an excellent 90-minute shift on both sides of the ball, and scored the game-winning goal in the first half. 

What’s Next: 

Canada is back in action late next month, visiting Japan for a pair of friendlies. They first meet in Nagasaki on November 29, before playing again in Isahaya on December 2. Watch every Canadian national team match live on OneSoccer.