Nine games into her tenure as Canada coach, Casey Stoney got a reality check Wednesday in a 3-0 loss to a young U.S. side.
It did not make for pleasant viewing.
The U.S. had 66 per cent possession, outshot Canada 22-7 (8-3 in shots on target) and had a 6-0 edge in corners. Canada led in fouls, 13-5.
Sam Coffey and Claire Hutton scored first-half goals for the top-ranked U.S. in the international friendly at Audi Field
Yazmeen Ryan added an insurance goal in the 89th minute, beating Kailen Sheridan from the edge of the penalty box with Canadian defenders backing away.
After going 6-1-1 under Stoney, the Canadians were outclassed Wednesday.
"Everything's been too easy. I think we've played opponents that have been far lower-ranked. And we come against the No. 1 in the world and we fell short," said Stoney. "So yeah, I think it's a reality check. I think it's a reality check for everybody.
'It is one game but it's an opportunity to reset. And we need to reset quickly. We need to get players into a physical condition to be able to perform at the highest level. And we definitely weren't there tonight."
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Stoney called her team's performance "inexcusable" and said her players' fitness wasn't good enough.
"A lack of commitment and desire, which is not this team," she said. "Losing draws, losing 50-50s, not getting up to the ball, not pressing — it's not good enough. I'm not going to hide away from it."
Noting the evening's heat — It was 29 C, feeling like 32 C at kickoff — Stoney acknowledged the conditions were tough.
"It was warm, I get that. But it was the same for both teams. And they looked a hell of a
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