Canada WNT vs Argentina
In a tournament often defined by attacking flair, Saturday’s meeting between Canada and Argentina turned into a battle of patience — and ultimately, goalkeeping.
Canada emerged with a 3–2 penalty shootout victory after a scoreless draw in regulation on the final matchday of the SheBelieves Cup at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The result gave Canada two points under tournament rules — one for the draw and another for winning the shootout — finishing the competition with five points overall.
The difference in the end was goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who saved two of Argentina’s opening penalty attempts to tilt the shootout in Canada’s favor.
The match itself, however, was anything but straightforward.
Canada began quite positively, nearly scoring inside the opening minutes when young forward Annabelle Chukwu slipped a pass into the box for fullback Janine Sonis. Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra reacted quickly to deny the chance and remained busy throughout the afternoon.
Argentina soon settled into the match and created several half-chances of their own. A sharp strike from Catalina Ongaro forced Sheridan into an early save, while a direct free kick from Sofía Domínguez later required another confident stop from the Canadian keeper.
At the other end, Canada’s best opportunity before halftime came when Jordyn Huitema unleashed a powerful shot that Pereyra managed to tip onto the crossbar.
The second half tilted more clearly toward Canada. Head coach Casey Stoney made several adjustments at the break, and her side began to dominate possession and territory. Canada pinned Argentina deeper and deeper into their own half but struggled to convert pressure into a decisive chance.
Argentina, anchored by captain Aldana Cometti, defended resolutely and seemed increasingly content to let the match drift toward penalties.
Under SheBelieves Cup rules, tied matches skip extra time and go straight to a shootout — and the drama there began immediately.
Sheridan saved Argentina’s first two attempts, putting Canada firmly in control. After an early miss from Huitema, captain Jessie Fleming stepped up to convert Canada’s first successful kick. Sonis and Julia Grosso followed with composed finishes.
Argentina briefly kept pace thanks to goals from Agostina Holzheier and Agostina Vargas, but the shootout ended when Vanina Preininger fired her effort over the crossbar.
For Canada, the result capped a mixed but encouraging tournament. The team opened with an impressive 4–1 win over Colombia, then fell narrowly to the USWNT before edging Argentina in Saturday’s finale.
Argentina, meanwhile, finished the tournament without scoring a goal but showed defensive resilience throughout the competition.
While the match lacked a breakthrough in open play, it offered a reminder that tournaments can hinge on small moments — and on keepers capable of delivering them. On this afternoon in New Jersey, Sheridan did exactly that.
