Internationals: Lacasse scores in Canada win

Cloe Lacasse was on target for Canada in their 5-0 rout over a much-changed Australian side. 

Our winger pickpocketed an Australian defender just outside the area before gently slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner. Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord did not feature for the Matildas in the friendly, whilst Kyra Cooney-Cross was introduced on the hour mark.

Lacasse was substituted in the 64th minute for international legend Christine Sinclair, who will be playing her very last game for Canada tomorrow against Australia.

Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses have their work cut out for them if they are still to qualify as Nations League Group 1 winners. Both Beth Mead and Alessia Russo featured in England’s dramatic second-half comeback against the Netherlands at Wembley, but the 3-2 scoreline was not enough to leapfrog the Dutch in the standings.

Victoria Pelova had a spectacular first half for the OranjeLeeuwinnen, assisting Lineth Beerensteyn’s opener. Vivianne Miedema, meanwhile, did not feature. All the Dutch must do to qualify for the knockout stages is beat Belgium tonight and retain their superior goal difference over the Lionesses.

England’s Under-19s also went head-to-head with the Netherlands this week in the Algarve Cup, with Michelle Agyemang and Freya Godfrey providing the goals in a dramatic 3-3 draw.

Fellow young Gunner, Maddy Earl, assisted Agyemang for the opener before Godfrey restored their lead in the second half. Agyemang got her second to make it 3-1 before the Dutch staged a late comeback to tie the fixture. Araya Dennis and Laila Harbert were also involved for the Young Lionesses.

France hit three past Austria on Friday evening but Manuela Zinsberger pulled off a terrific save to deny a Eugenie Le Sommer penalty just before half-time.

Elsewhere in Group 2, Norway recorded their first win in comprehensive fashion, scoring four with no reply against Portugal. Ada Hegerberg bagged a hat trick and Liverpool’s Sophie Roman Haug completed the job in stoppage time, with Frida Maanum featuring for 85 minutes.

Kathrine Kuhl and Denmark’s Olympic hopes were dented as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to group rivals, Germany. The Danes must now beat Iceland this evening and hope that Germany fail to beat Wales if they are to qualify as Group 3 winners.

In Group 4, Switzerland recorded their very first win in the competition against Sweden, courtesy of a 6th-minute goal from Ana-Maria Crnogorčević.

Swiss captain Lia Walti and Noelle Maritz played the full game, with Amanda Ilestedt also featuring for 90 minutes for the Swedes. Stina Blackstenius led the line for Sweden for the opening hour, with Lina Hurtig also coming on as a late substitute.

Ireland continued their perfect record in Nations League B with a 1-0 win over Hungary. Katie McCabe captained the side and played for the full 90 minutes, with one game yet to play against Northern Ireland tonight.