By Dagim Tekle | The Voice of Women Sport
October 12, 2026
TORONTO– Canada’s second-half fightback fell short as Denmark claimed a 4–3 victory at BMO Field on Monday, on an afternoon that also celebrated Allysha Chapman’s international retirement and Melissa Tancredi’s induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.
Olivia Holdt scored twice for Denmark, with Pernille Harder and Janni Thomsen also finding the net. Delaney Baie Pridham, Evelyne Viens and Olivia Smith scored for Canada in front of an announced crowd of 12,112.
Pridham gave Canada an encouraging start in the 10th minute, scoring her first senior international goal. But Denmark overturned the advantage with three goals in nine minutes: Holdt equalised in the 23rd minute, Harder put the visitors ahead in the 27th, and Holdt struck again in the 32nd.
Canada responded after the interval. Viens, introduced at halftime, reduced the deficit in the 49th minute before Thomsen restored Denmark’s two-goal cushion in the 61st. Smith scored in the 70th minute to bring Canada within one goal, but the hosts could not find another equaliser.
The result followed Friday’s 1–1 draw in Montréal, where Canada won an unofficial penalty shootout 4–2. Monday’s seven-goal contest offered encouragement in attack, but Denmark’s first-half scoring burst exposed defensive mistakes that proved decisive.
Chapman closes her international career with 100 caps
Chapman entered in the 89th minute for captain Jessie Fleming, making her 100th and final appearance for Canada. A post-match ceremony honoured the defender’s contribution to the national team.
The Courtice, Ontario native made her senior debut in October 2014. She helped Canada win Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 and gold at Tokyo 2020, and represented the country at the 2015, 2019 and 2023 Women’s World Cups.
Her resilience was memorably demonstrated in Rio, where she returned from a separated shoulder suffered against France to help Canada defeat Brazil in the bronze-medal match. Chapman finishes her international career with two goals alongside her century of appearances.
Tancredi and three Canadian veterans honoured
At halftime, Melissa Tancredi was recognised for her induction into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The former forward scored 27 goals in 125 international appearances and helped Canada secure Olympic bronze medals in London and Rio. Her career also included three Women’s World Cups and a Concacaf championship.
Before kickoff, Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence were honoured for reaching 150 international appearances each, adding further milestones to a day celebrating Canadian women’s soccer.
Canada now turns its attention to the Concacaf W Championship and a November 28 quarterfinal against Panama in Mansfield, Texas. A victory would secure qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, while the tournament also determines the region’s places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
