Canadian women lose soccer friendly to Sweden

Canada's women's team gave up goals early in eachhalf Saturday to drop a 3-1 decision to Sweden in a soccer friendly.

Caroline Seger, Lotta Schelin and Kosovare Asllani had the goals for Sweden.

Sophie Schmidt replied late for the Canadians.

Canada was coming off a 2-1 friendly win over Brazil in Foxborough, Mass., last Saturday as the team continues to prepare for this summer's Olympics in London.

Seger opened the scoring in the seventh minute off a defensive mistake from Canada.

Canadian defender Candace Chapman gave the ball away to Seger in midfield, who beat goalkeeper Erin McLeod from well out.

Sweden doubled its lead in the 53rd minute through Schelin's goal before putting the game away in the 78th on a strike from Asllani.

Schmidt got one back for Canada in the 87th but it was too little too late.

"We have to start grinding the results out," Canadian coach John Herdman. "Every game we play from now to the Olympics, we have to be more resolute."

Herdman featured 21 different players in the games against Brazil and Sweden and says Saturday was good learning experience despite the loss.

"I think one of the worries is you become too predictable as a team and after our France game in Cyprus it became apparent there were other things we needed to work on," he said. "So it was good today to see the players try something different and for long periods it looked quite successful, we just couldn't find that end product."