Alidou replaces the injured Lacasse for Canadian women’s friendly in Spain

By The Canadian Press on October 21, 2024.

Benfica's Marie-Yasmine Alidou, left, celebrates after scoring her side's second goal during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona at the Benfica Campus in Seixal, outside Lisbon on January 31, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Armando Franca

Marie-Yasmine Alidou has been called in to replace the injured Cloe Lacasse ahead of the Canadian women’s international friendly in Spain on Friday.

The sixth-ranked Canadians face No. 3 Spain, the reigning World Cup champions, at Estadio Francisco de la Hera in Almendralejo.

Lacasse was forced to leave in the 36th minute of the Utah Royals’ 1-1 draw at Angel City FC on Sunday with an apparent knee injury. The 31-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., was coming off a three-goal performance in a 3-0 win over Seattle Reign, the first hat-trick in Utah Royals history and the first in the 2024 NWSL season.

Alidou, a 29-year-old from Saint-Hubert, Que., who plays in Portugal for Benfica, has two Canadian senior caps already.