Canada’s women’s national soccer team faced a tough 1-0 defeat against Switzerland in a recent international match. The game, held at the Swissporarena, saw Switzerland’s Alayah Pilgrim score the only goal of the match. The physicality of the Swiss team made the game intense, with Canada, ranked ninth, missing crucial opportunities to score, including two in stoppage time.
The match marked the first-ever victory for Switzerland over Canada. The game took a turn for the worse for Canada when star striker Olivia Smith suffered an injury in the first half due to a heavy fall, allegedly caused by Swiss defender Viola Calligaris. Despite protests from Canada’s coach, the incident was not considered a foul by the referee.
Smith, who recently transferred to England’s Arsenal, had to be substituted due to the injury. The physical play from the Swiss team affected other Canadian players as well. The defeat came after Canada’s disappointing loss to the United States in their previous match, prompting the team to prepare for upcoming games against the Netherlands and Japan.
Switzerland’s early goal by Alayah Pilgrim put pressure on Canada’s defense, leading to missed chances by Canadian players like Janine Sonis. Despite several opportunities, Canada failed to find the back of the net. Injuries to key players like goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx and others added to Canada’s challenges.
The defeat was a setback for Canada under coach Casey Stoney, who fielded a strong lineup for the match. With upcoming games on the horizon, Canada aims to bounce back from the recent losses and regain momentum in international women’s soccer competitions.