{
    "title": "Canada WNT in control in first of two games against Sweden",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-04 20:52:56",
    "published_at": "2014-11-24 23:33:00",
    "url": "https://news.canadasoccer.com/canada-wnt-in-control-in-first-of-two-games-against-sweden",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/UQEd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "The Canadian team were scarcely under too much trouble and got the goal they needed to pick up a 1:0 win over Sweden in the first of Women\u2019s International Friendlies between the two nations.",
    "slug": "canada-wnt-in-control-in-first-of-two-games-against-sweden",
    "body": "<p>In their penultimate game of 2014, Canada&rsquo;s Women&rsquo;s National Team looked like a confident group of players that are fired up about hosting the world in 2015.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought it was a game that Canada dominated in possession with a team that looked like they were trying to impose themselves,&rdquo; said Head Coach John Herdman. &ldquo;We knew Sweden would be direct and trying us on the counter. We had a 15-minute period after halftime where we wobbled, but outside of that, I thought we were in control of the game.&rdquo;</p><p>Herdman stated before the game that the team&rsquo;s shifting gears from a development phase to one where the performance should result in wins on a FIFA Women&rsquo;s World Cup stage. Monday was a close game at times but was one where Canada deserved the result and found the breakthrough they needed to snatch it.</p><p>Sweden came back after the halftime interval and asked a few questions of the Canadian back line. But each time, Canada handled those situations relatively comfortably and dictated the outcome of the game very well.</p><p>&ldquo;I thought what was great is the girls, tactically, just adjusted, and weathered the storm. I thought we got back hold of the ball again, which changed the momentum of the game,&rdquo; said Herdman. &ldquo;Towards the end, we had a couple of one-on-ones with their goalkeeper. This is a solid performance and I really am proud of what these girls have put in.&rdquo;</p><p>Goalkeeper Erin McLeod picked up the clean sheet in her 100th appearance at the international &lsquo;A&rsquo; level for Canada. McLeod is the 12th Canadian to join the centurion club for Canada and is the second goalkeeper after Karina LeBlanc.</p><p>Canada will want a similar performance on <a href=\"http://canadasoccer.com/?gid=1214&amp;t=2014_match\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wednesday night (26 November 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT)</a> when they&rsquo;ll look to wrap up the year on a high in a rematch with Sweden at Long Beach State University. Fans will be able to follow live on Twitter <a href=\"http://www.twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@CanadaSoccerEN</a>.</p><p><a href=\"http://canadasoccer.com/?gid=1213&amp;t=2014_match\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Match Report: Canada WNT 1:0 Sweden</strong></a></p>",
    "header": {
        "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/be0cccbf-64a3-4b66-847d-f963894c4958/-/format/auto/",
        "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/be0cccbf-64a3-4b66-847d-f963894c4958/-/format/auto/"
    },
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Integration",
        "last_name": "Integration"
    },
    "format_version": 5
}