Smith Strikes Late as Canada Salvage 1-1 Draw With Denmark

Canada needed a hero at Stade Saputo on Friday night, and Olivia Smith answered the call. Trailing Denmark in the first of two international friendlies, the ninth-ranked Canadians turned to their 22-year-old Arsenal forward from the bench — and she delivered a moment of genuine quality to rescue a 1-1 draw in front of 10,162 supporters.

Denmark, ranked 12th in the world, had struck first through captain Pernille Harder, the Bayern Munich star who finished clinically in the 24th minute. Canada controlled long stretches of the match but could not find a way through until Smith entered the fray. Cutting in from the flank, she bent a left-footed shot across goalkeeper Alberte Vingum and into the net in the 84th minute for her sixth senior international goal, racing to the touchline to celebrate with her teammates.

Coach Casey Stoney made no secret of the plan once Smith was on the pitch: get her the ball and let her create. Teammate Marie-Yasmine Alidou called her "special," praising her hunger to make the difference. It was the kind of cameo that underlined why Smith is seen as the future of the Canadian attack — a substitute who changed the entire complexion of the evening. The two sides meet again in the second friendly as Canada continue their autumn schedule.