MATCH REPORT | Cristina Martín-Prieto's goal snatches a draw against Canada

The friendly match between Spain and Canada promised to be exciting, and it did not disappoint. It began with a touching moment of best wishes for Inma Gabarro after her cruciate ligament injury. The starting eleven posed with a T-shirt with her name on it before the start of the match in a Francisco de la Hera with a great atmosphere despite the cold night in Badajoz. 

The national team quickly got the crowd warmed up three minutes into the game with a shot from Mariona Caldentey, who was making her 80th appearance for the national team today, after a back-heel from Alexia Putellas. The Mallorcan's shot was just wide of the post. 

Alexia came out inspired, looking for all her team-mates on the edge of the box as she linked up with Alba Redondo in the early stages of the game. 

Montse Tomé's team were creating the usual attacking patterns associated with the national team, making the Almendralejo crowd enjoy their passing based attacking football. Tere Abelleira's shot lifted them out of their seats. No less spectacular was the shot from the right foot of the player from Pontevedra that forced Sheridan to be at her best in goal in the 15th minute of the match. 

The Canadians had not come to Almendralejo to make up the numbers, as the coach and Alba Redondo had warned in the press room. And the sixth-ranked side in the FIFA rankings created a couple of chances and, at times, posed dangers to the goal defended by Cata Coll. Spain immediately regrouped and disarmed the Canadians with their quick transitions and constant switches of play on the pitch. The minutes of Spanish pressure were celebrated by the crowd doing a Mexican wave. From Tere Abelleira's powerful strike from outside the area to the most dangerous chance: a shot from Alexia Putellas with a lot of danger. The ball fell back to María Méndez, who also failed to open the scoring at the Francisco de la Hera. 

Alba Redondo came up with a great move with penetration into the six-yard box. She was disturbed by the two Canadian centre-backs who prevented her from shooting cleanly but the ball fell to Alexia who did get on the end of it, although her shot went over Sheridan’s goal. The Canadian defence had to work their socks off to stop Montse Tomé's players who were camped on the edge of the area. Had it not been for their efforts the score would not have been level at the break.

Andy Spence took advantage of the break to make a triple substitution and it was Alidou, who had just come on, who scored Canada's first goal against Spain in the four meetings between the two sides. It was three minutes into the second half and the Olympic champions from Tokyo were ahead. The national team quickly regrouped to try to come back and Alexia almost from the ground again tried to beat Sheridan but to no avail. The team did not tire of laying siege to the opponent's goal but without reward. The corners came and went in favour of the national team, four in four minutes. They also tried from set-pieces but to no avail.

The quick combinations continued to disrupt the Canadians, who defended as best they could against dangerous passes from Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Alba Redondo. 

Montse Tomé made a double substitution. In the 72nd minute, Cristina Martín-Prieto, who was making her debut for the national team, and Jenni Hermoso came on in the 72nd minute. Alba Redondo and María Méndez left the pitch. Two minutes into her debut Cristina almost scored after a perfect pass from Alexia Putellas, but her shot went just wide of the post. One more for Spain, this time from Alexia, who forced D'angelo to make use of her gloves. The goalkeeper also had to fist away soon after from Martín-Prieto's shot. 

The national team created and created, generated and generated chances with great danger and enjoyed themselves, with a good feeling, until the dream minute arrived, the 88th, in which Martín-Prieto scored her first goal for the national team on her debut. She will never forget this night. The third time's the charm for the number 20. 

The national team kept trying until the end, but could not move the scoreboard again in Athenea del Castillo's 50th game.