MARBELLA — Substitute Evelyne Viens’ 85th-minute goal lifted Canada to a 2-1 comeback win Saturday over Australia in a tune-up game ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Nichelle Prince also scored for eighth-ranked Canada.
Sharn Freier replied for 12th-ranked Australia.
Freier, making her first start, was a late addition to the Australian starting 11 after Caitlin Foord felt a tightness in her quad during warm-up.
Saturday’s game was considered a Tier 2 match that doesn’t count towards ranking or statistics. That’s because there was no limit for substitutions or windows for subs.
The Canadian women have one final closed-door match next Wednesday before the games. Canada Soccer has not disclosed the opponent.
Canada started well but Freier opened the scoring in the 24th minute, taking a pass from Mary Fowler in the penalty box and shifting the ball to her left foot before taking a shot that went through Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan at the near post.
Canada tied it up in the 41st minute with Prince knocking the ball home after Australia ‘keeper Mackenzie Arnold could not hang on to a Cloe Lacasse cross. Newly signed to the NWSL Portland Thorns, Arnold is a club teammate of Canada captain Jessie Fleming and Janine Beckie.
The winning goal came after Gabbie Carle dispossessed a defender in the Matildas’ penalty box and passed to Viens, who slotted it home from close range.
Canada’s European-based players have been in camp in Spain since July 4, with North American based players joining them team on July 8.
Canada opens defence of its Olympic title July 25 in Group A play against No. 28 New Zealand before facing No. 2 France on July 28 and No. 22 Colombia on July 31.
The game against Australia gave the Canadians a chance to get a taste of what New Zealand has to offer. The Canadian women are coming off a two-game series against Mexico, which was seen as a chance to experience the kind of game Colombia plays.
Canada came into Saturday’s game with a 10-8-3 record against Australia, including 5-0 and 1-0 wins in B.C. in December in a series that marked longtime captain Christine Sinclair’s final international outings.
Those were the first meetings of the teams since co-host Australia ended Canada’s World Cup with a humbling 4-0 win last July in Melbourne. That defeat consigned Canada to third place in Group B and a trip home while Australia went on to finish fourth.
Sheridan started in goal Saturday behind a strong lineup of Jade Rose, Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Giles, Jayde Riviere, Ashley Lawrence, Simi Awujo, Fleming, Lacasse, Prince and Adriana Leon.
Carle, Viens, Beckie, Shelina Zadorsky, Quinn, Julia Grosso, Deanne Rose and Jordyn Huitema came in for Canada off the bench.
Australia was also missing the injured Kaitlyn Torpey, Steph Catley, Teagan Micah and Tameka Yallop. The Matildas will play out of Group B at the Olympics alongside No. 4 Germany, the fifth-ranked United States and No. 64 Zambia.