31:22! Red Roses suffer a second defeat in two weeks

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents 31:22! Red Roses suffer a second defeat in two weeks.

31:22! Red Roses suffer a second defeat in two weeks.

31:22 in Ottawa: England have lost to Canada for the second time within two weeks. This is a significant setback for the Red Roses, because Canada’s first win had ended the English women’s previously unbeaten run. Now, the second defeat has followed directly on from the first.

The BBC Sport video confirms both the result and the two consecutive defeats. The more detailed match report from The Guardian also places the game in context and highlights the performances of the Canadian players. Both sources give the same score: 31:22 in Ottawa.

From One Win to a Second Consecutive Defeat

On the previous Friday, Canada ended England’s unbeaten streak. Just a few days later, the Canadians repeated their win: on a cold night in Ottawa, they played with freedom and high tempo and won the second match by 31 to 22.

It was therefore no longer just about the result of a single match. BBC Sport describes the game as the second defeat in as many weeks. The Guardian particularly emphasises the rarity of consecutive defeats: before that, the Red Roses had gone more than a decade without suffering consecutive defeats. This was the first time the Red Roses had experienced two immediately successive defeats against Canada in Ottawa.

De Goede’s Hat-Trick: Canada’s Captain Shapes the Win

According to The Guardian, captain Sophie de Goede was the outstanding player of the match. The World Player of the Year scored a hat-trick and also contributed defensively. Her involvement on both sides of the game helped Canada secure their second success in Ottawa.

The report also highlights Julie Omokhuale, who likewise made a strong contribution to the team’s performance. The source therefore paints a picture not of one outstanding player, but of a team in which the captain and other players together made the difference.

Canada Sends a Signal for the 2029 World Cup

On the basis of the two results, The Guardian goes a step further and rates Canada as a serious contender for the 2029 World Cup trophy. This assessment is, however, explicitly conditional: Canada would have to continue the course of development it has recently set out on.

For comparison, the report cites Canada’s defeat to England in the 2025 World Cup final. According to the report, the Canadian team’s performance had improved markedly within the space of just one year. The wording is important: this is The Guardian’s assessment, not a definite forecast for the 2029 World Cup.

England’s Record: Third Defeat in 74 Matches

According to The Guardian, the defeat in Ottawa was England’s third defeat in their past 74 matches. Together with Canada’s first win on Friday, the results offer three different perspectives on the same run: Canada’s second success within two weeks, the Red Roses’ first consecutive defeats in a decade and the third defeat in the past 74 matches overall.

For the Red Roses, the picture is now clear: the defeat in Ottawa was not an isolated one, but part of an unusual short-term downturn. At the same time, the comparison highlights how striking the move from a single defeat to two consecutive defeats was for England.

More for You

If you want to watch the match yourself, BBC Sport has the highlights. The detailed match report from The Guardian offers more details on the historical context, the players’ performances and how The Guardian rates Canada as a potential contender for the 2029 World Cup.