Short-handed Canadian soccer women tie China in head coach Casey Stoney's debut

Casey Stoney's debut as head coach of Canada's women's soccer team was a tale of two halves against China at the Pinatar Cup on Wednesday.

"I liked the first half. I didn't like the second half," Stoney said succinctly after the 1-1 draw in Murcia, Spain.

Trailing 1-0 after a Julia Grosso goal in the 16th minute, 17th-ranked China rebounded from a slow start to pull even in the 58th minute. And Canada needed a stellar diving save in stoppage time by goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo to preserve the tie after a China corner.

It was a somewhat choppy performance by the sixth-ranked Canadian women as Stoney, a former England captain who put in charge of Canada in mid-January, watched from the sideline at Pinatar Arena.

"I thought we lacked a little bit of control and discipline and kind of went away from our style of play a little bit in the second half," said Stoney. "We allowed China to dictate what we did a little bit more. They were very physical. I don't think the officiating [led by Hungarian referee Katalin Sipos] helped us to play our game tonight as well, which was a bit of an issue. But we need to control that, irrelevant of the officiating."

WATCH l Grosso scores Canada's only goal in draw with China:

Julia Grosso scores Canada's lone goal in Pinatar Cup draw with China

Canada continues tournament play Saturday against No. 31 Mexico before facing No. 42 Taiwan next Tuesday, also at the Pinatar Arena. Mexico blanked Taiwan 4-0 earlier Wednesday.

Substitute Adriana Leon appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when she was taken down in the China penalty box in the 83rd minute. Stoney said it was "100 per cent" a penalty.

Stoney was missing a slew of players for Canada's first game since early December.

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