Canada ends 2025 on a sour note with loss in Japan

• Canada 0, Japan 1 (Tanaka 45’)   
• Les Rouges end the year with 5 consecutive shutout losses    
• Canadians have gone 454 consecutive minutes without a goal 

Rather than sprinting to the end, the Canadian women’s team stumbled and bumbled over the finish line to close out 2025.  

Canada was outplayed for a second straight time by Japan in Tuesday’s international friendly, coming out on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss in Nagasaki.   

The result means Canada finished the year with five consecutive shutout defeats, its longest losing streak since dropping four in a row from June 20 to Nov. 7, 2019, when Kenneth Heiner-Møller was the coach. The Canadians have not scored in 454 consecutive minutes since Emma Regan's 86th-minute goal in a 4-1 win over Costa Rica on June 27 in Toronto. Since then, Les Rouges have been outscored 9-0 across their five losses, which included a 3-0 defeat to Japan last Saturday.  

Even though forward Evelyne Viens looked lively in attack, there wasn’t too much else to like in this affair from the Canadians who couldn’t keep up with the fast-paced Japanese. The final score rather flattered Canada and made it seem like the game was a lot closer than it was in reality. Japan hit the woodwork several times, otherwise the damage could have been far worse for Canada.  

Was it as bad from the Canadians compared to their loss in the opener of this two-game series? No. But that bar was set so low that they couldn’t help but improve on this night. 

The Japanese federation didn’t sell tickets for Tuesday’s match, treating it like a training match. As a result, eighth-ranked Japan and No. 9 Canada contested the game inside an empty Transcosmos Stadium. 

Coach Casey Stoney remained in England tending to her mother who has been diagnosed with stage four cancer, which meant assistant coach Natalie Henderson oversaw the team for a second straight time.  

Canada made six lineup changes from the first game in Japan, swapping in goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo, defenders Vanessa Gilles and Sydney Collins, midfielder Marie-Yasmine Alidou, and forwards Adriana Leon and Viens. Making way were Kailen Sheridan (who had a disastrous showing in the first loss vs. Japan), Jayde Riviere, Marie Levasseur, Simi Awujo and Nichelle Prince.  

The five holdovers were winger Janine Sonis (deployed as a fullback in this game), centre back Shelina Zadorsky, Regan and captain Jessie Fleming, and forward Holly Ward.  

Japan made eight lineup changes, including goalkeeper Akane Okuma, 21, earning her second cap in place of veteran Ayaka Yamashita.  

It was a much stronger start by Canada who put Japan under pressure in the first 15 minutes with some probing attacks and dangerous balls from Fleming and speedy play by Leon down the right wing. Fleming’s shot from 14 yards out forced Okuma into making a two-handed save and she later rushed off her line to dive at the feet of Viens and snuff out another chance. But the Japanese goalkeeper was hurt on the play and had to be subbed out after 11 minutes.  

Japan grew into the game with its quick passing game and ball movement as the first half progressed and managed to have several good looks on goal. Manaka Matsukubo should have buried her shot after a fluid passing sequence from the hosts. Instead, she ballooned her attempt high over the crossbar.  

Captain Yui Hasegawa carved out two quality scoring chances in the span of 10 minutes. Hasegawa’s angled shot from inside the box was deflected onto the post by Collins and she them saw her low drive off a lovely back-heeled pass whisper past the far post.   

Japan’s persistence paid off right before halftime. D’Angelo did well to make a save on Narumi Miura’s close range header off a corner kick before Mina Tanaka slammed home the rebound. Matsukubo nearly doubled the hosts’ lead in injury time with a low shot that went just wide of the post. The Japanese ended the first half with a 11-2 edge in total shots (3-1 in shots on target). 

The Japanese picked up where they left off at the start of the second half with Hikaru Kitagawa’s rocket off a shot from distance smacking the crossbar with D’Angelo beaten. D’Angelo came up big to stop Aoba Fujino who took full advantage of Sonis backing off and getting off a strong shot after breaking into the box.  

NOTES: Canada has an all-time record of four wins, four draws, and 10 losses against Japan... The Canadians have just one win in their last nine outings (1-7-1) against the Asian nation... Canada’s previous win over Japan came at the 2018 Algarve Cup... The next FIFA international window runs from Feb. 17-26. No games have been scheduled as of yet, but the Canadian women's team is expected to play twice during that window. 

(Top photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)

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