SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Jonelle Filigno scored her 11th career goal for Canada in a 1-0 victory over Sweden on Monday in the first of two women’s international soccer friendlies between the two nations.
Filigno scored late in the first half when she ran onto a through pass by Sophie Schmidt and beat Sweden goalkeeper Carola Soberg who tried running off the line, but in vain, to stop the attempt.
Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod earned a clean sheet in her 100th appearance for Canada at the top level of international competition. McLeod is the 12th Canadian woman to make the 100-games mark and is the second goalkeeper after Karina LeBlanc.
The two teams will play again on Wednesday.
Jessie Fleming created Canada’s best chance of the second half with about 20 minutes remaining. She deftly controlled a ball in the air with her feet that managed to elude two Swedish players at the same time. She carried the ball through the midfield before passing out left to substitute Josee Belanger.
Belanger reached the end-line and cut the ball back to Filigno in the middle but her attempt at goal was partially blocked with a desperate tackle.