Canadian comeback downs Danes

By Peter Bruun

Denmark 3-4 Canada
Denmark finalised their preparations for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ in the worst possible fashion by wasting a three-goal lead to lose to Canada in Copenhagen.

Stunning start
In front of more than 1,500 spectators at the Brøndby stadium, Peter Bonde's side began their final warm-up match in scintillating fashion and were 3-0 up after 13 minutes. Top scorer Merete Pedersen opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute, outsprinting the Canadian defence to shoot in.

Quick strikes
Seven minutes later it was 2-0, Dorte Dalum Jensen collecting the ball on the counterattack and picking out Pedersen, who headed in her and Denmark's second goal. It was 3-0 two minutes later, Danish captain Katrine Pedersen striking the crossbar with an effort but Cathrine Sørensen was on hand to sweep in the rebound.

Canadian comeback
FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finalists Canada struck back in the 24th minute, captain Christine Sinclair pulling one back with the North American side's first shot on target. Denmark continued to press, however, and might have restored their three-goal cushion before half-time, but Sørensen failed to convert a glorious opportunity.

Sinclair supreme
Canada poured forward in the opening stages of the second period, and got their reward eleven minutes after the restart as Sinclair made it 3-2. With 12 minutes left Charmaine Hooper equalised and, with Denmark rocking, Sinclair completed her hat-trick - and a remarkable Canadian comeback - six minutes from time.

Bonde verdict
"Our players were simply scared by the Canadians' physical strength in the second half," said Denmark coach Bonde. "We never really got back into the game after their second goal, and we have to look closely on video at all the individual duels we lost - and we practically lost all of them in the second half - but we played fantastically in the first 25 minutes."