Leon's highlight-reel goal lifts Canada past Australia in friendly

BRISBANE, Australia — Less than a year away from the Women's World Cup, Olympic champion Canada got the best of tournament co-host Australia in a 1-0 win Saturday.

The Canadians survived a depleted backline with goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan coming up big on numerous occasions. And the Canada offence, which has been muted in the past, bristled with attacking options as the game wore on.

Australia had more chances in the first half but went into the break trailing 1-0. Canada turned up the pressure in a wide-open second half that saw both sides threaten.

"Overall (I'm) really, really happy," Canada coach Bev Priestman said of the performance. "To be honest, it's the stuff that I love about this team. When you're faced with that level of adversity, they step up and they do whatever it takes to win … I really enjoyed some of the football we played. It was dynamic."

Adriana Leon's 11th-minute rocket proved to be the difference in an entertaining contest before a crowd of 25,016 at Suncorp Stadium.

The play started with a Jessie Fleming free kick from the left touchline. The ball was cleared by an Australian defender but only as far as Bianca St-Georges who sent it over to Jordyn Huitema. The OL Reign striker teed the ball up for Leon, who hammered a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty box past the outstretched hands of diving goalkeeper Lydia Williams for her 25th goal for Canada.

"Her quality always shines through," said Priestman. "She scores goals."

The seventh-ranked Canadians meet the 12th-ranked Matildas in a rematch Tuesday at the newly rebuilt Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Both venues will host matches at next year's World Cup, which kicks off next July in 10 stadiums in nine host cities across Australia and