Canada midfielder Jessie Fleming (17) in action during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against the United States, Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

ISAHAYA — Better, but still not good enough.

Beaten 3-0 by Japan in a lacklustre showing Saturday, the Canadian women put on an improved performance in Tuesday's rematch but still lost 1-0.

"I think (it's) certainly frustrating. It feels like we just can't quite get over the line at the minute," said assistant coach Natalie Henderson, who ran the Canadian sideline with head coach Casey Stoney back in England with her ailing mother. "But in terms of performance, I thought it was much better.

"We used the ball well at times, we tried to create more chances and it's something we need to keep looking at. We need to create more of them, but it was certainly a step in the right direction in terms of the attacking football we want to play."

Mina Tanaka, who plays for the NWSL's Utah Royals, scored for No. 8 Japan in Tuesday's soccer friendly at Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki.

Ninth-ranked Canada closes out the year mired in a five-game losing streak.

The Canadians have not won or scored since a 4-1 victory over No. 43 Costa Rica on June 27 in Toronto. Their goal drought now stands at 454 minutes since Emma Regan's 86th-minute goal against Costa Rica.

Before the Japan defeats, the Canadian women suffered consecutive 1-0 losses to No. 24 Switzerland and the 11th-ranked Netherlands in October and were blanked 3-0 by the second-ranked United States on July 2.

It's the first five-game slide for the Canadian women since 2005 when they were beaten by Sweden, Norway. the U.S. and Germany (twice). Canadian forward Holly Ward and midfielder Simi Awujo had yet to celebrate their second birthday when that slump occurred.

The Canadians close out the year with a 6-6-1 record.

Henderson's message to the players is keep believing.

"Believe in what we're doing, to believe in the team that we are and want to be … We've played some really good opposition, which is what we wanted. We want to test ourselves against the best. We want to see where we're at and we want to keep building.

"For the players, we know there are bits we need to get better at, 100 per cent. We all know that. We need to raise our standards on and off the pitch."

The Canadians, outplayed in Saturday's defeat at Nagasaki's Peace Stadium, had a much improved start Tuesday. But the Japanese had the superior chances and went ahead in the 45th minute off a corner.

A diving Sabrina D'Angelo got a hand to Narumi Miura's header but Tanaka was Johnny-on-the-spot, beating Regan to the rebound to score from close range.

Japan could have added to its total with Yui Hasegawa, via a deflected shot, and Hikaru Kitagawa both hitting the woodwork on either side of halftime. The home side squandered several other gilt-edged chances.

An Evelyne Viens goal for Canada was called offside in the 53rd minute.

Japan outshot Canada 18-8 (4-3 in shots on target).

Canada made six changes to its starting lineup with D'Angelo, defenders Vanessa Gilles and Sydney Collins, midfielder Yasmine Alidou and forwards Adriana Leon and Viens slotting in. Janine Sonis dropped back to fullback from winger.

The starting 11 went into the game with a combined 683 caps, compared to 702 caps for Saturday's starters.

Japan made eight changes. Six starters play their club football in England with four in the NWSL, leaving 21-year-old goalkeeper Akane Okuma, earning her second cap, the only player based in Japan.

Canada started well, forcing Okuma to make a diving save to deny Canada captain Jessie Fleming in the third minute. The 'keeper needed treatment after her face slammed into the goalpost as she hit the ground.

Three minutes later, Okuma was hurt again — this time in a collision diving for the ball. She left the field on a stretcher with Chika Hirao, who plays in Spain for Granada CF, taking over in goal.

Canada's record against Japan slipped to 4-10-4. The Canadians have not beaten Japan since March 2018, when they prevailed 2-0 at the Algarve Cup.

Canada was without star forward Olivia Smith, at her English club's request. Arsenal did not want Smith, who suffered a hip injury playing for Canada last month, to make the long trip to Japan.

Canada was also missing the injured Kadeisha Buchanan, Gabby Carle? and? Lysianne Proulx. Cloé Lacasse, while back from a knee injury suffered in October 2024, is not expected to rejoin Canada until next year.

Annabelle Chukwu? (Notre Dame) and ?Kayla Briggs (Michigan State University) were unavailable for selection.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025