Scotland 0-2 Canada: Scots go down to Cyprus Cup defeat

Anna Signeul has recently signed a new contract as Scotland boss

Goals early in each half cost Scotland as they went down 2-0 to Canada in their opening Cyprus Cup group game in Nicosia.

Canada were ahead after two minutes when Jessie Fleming finished Christine Sinclair's cross.

The lead was doubled through a second-half strike from Sinclair.

Scotland head coach Anna Signeul said: "We made it hard for ourselves conceding an unnecessary first goal, and the second was cheaply given away."

She added: "That was a real pity because, for the rest of a high-intensity game, we were solid and created a few chances.

"We did well for the vast majority of the match, but Canada were probably the better side, so I've no complaints about the result."

Signeul's team went behind when Fleming turned the ball in from close range following a lofted ball out of the Canadian defence.

The goal rattled Signeul's team and, for a spell, they were on the back foot.

But they forced their way back into the game and, with Kim Little and Jane Ross prominent, they were having plenty of possession by the interval.

Eight minutes into the second half, however, Sinclair hit what proved to be a decisive second Canadian goal.

Scotland responded with a series of attacks but rarely threatened a goal.

They ended the day bottom of the group on goal difference, South Korea having lost 2-1 to Italy, who the Scots face on Friday in their second game.

Earlier in the day England opened their campaign with a comfortable 3-1 Group B win against Finland.