Smith’s Late Equalizer Earns Canada Draw, Shootout Win Over Denmark

MONTREAL — Olivia Smith came off the bench and rescued Canada.

The Arsenal striker scored in the 84th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw with Denmark on Friday night at Stade Saputo, and the Canadians went on to win the ensuing penalty shootout 4-2 in the first of two friendlies between the sides.

Denmark captain Pernille Harder opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finishing past Kailen Sheridan to silence the announced crowd of 10,162. Canada pushed for the equalizer in the second half, with Julia Grosso rattling the crossbar in injury time before Danish keeper Alberte Vingum denied Smith from close range.

Smith wouldn't be denied again. Cutting onto her left foot, she fired across goal to beat Vingum and level it late.

Substitute keeper Sabrina D'Angelo then preserved the draw with a last-gasp stop on Janni Thomsen's volley, forcing the shootout — where Canada converted all four attempts while Denmark hit the post and skied one over.

It was Canada's first match on home soil in over a year and their first outing since a 6-0 win over Costa Rica in June. The ninth-ranked Canadians remain in search of their first win over a top-15 opponent under head coach Casey Stoney.

The teams meet again Monday at BMO Field in Toronto (3:30 p.m. ET), where longtime fullback Allysha Chapman will earn her 100th and final cap for Canada.

The friendlies are Canada's final tune-up before the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal against Panama on Nov. 28, with qualification for the 2027 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the line.