The Canadian women’s soccer team faced another setback as they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Japan in a friendly match in Nagasaki. Japan, ranked eighth, dominated the game with goals from Momoko Tanikawa, Mina Tanaka, and Aoba Fujino at the 20,000-seat Peace Stadium.
Assistant coach Natalie Henderson acknowledged the team’s challenging phase and expressed a desire to improve performance. Canada’s struggle against Japan continued, with their last victory over Japan dating back to March 2018. The teams will clash again in Canada’s final match of the year at Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki.
The Canadian team, currently holding a 6-5-1 record in 2025, is on a losing streak after recent defeats to Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. This losing streak is the team’s longest since 2019. Canada has not scored a goal in 364 minutes of play since June.
In the match against Japan, Canada faced difficulties early on, leading to Japan’s early lead. Despite moments of promise, including a corner causing chaos in Japan’s penalty box, Canada struggled to capitalize on opportunities. Japan’s effective attacking play resulted in goals, with Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan facing challenges.
Canada made lineup changes for the match, introducing new players and showcasing a mix of experience and fresh talent. Notably, captain Jessie Fleming marked her 150th cap in the game. The absence of key players like Olivia Smith and others due to injuries impacted Canada’s performance.
Despite the setbacks, Canada remains determined to bounce back and improve their form in upcoming matches. The team faces challenges but aims to regroup and strengthen their performance on the field.