ALTHOUGH the manner in which Canada were gifted a third minute goal was a blow from which Scotland never recovered, Anna Signeul’s side could have few complaints after being well beaten by a more powerful and athletic side in Nicosia.

The World Cup hosts, who have won a record three Cyprus Cups, moved to the top of Group A, and the only concern for coach John Herdman is that they should have scored more, especially in a one-sided first half. The Canadians arrived on the island a week before Scotland and have been in intense preparation for June’s World Cup for several months.

That showed against a Scotland team whose players are still in pre-season with their clubs. Jenny Beattie, who plays for Manchester City, was one of her side’s best players, but like her team-mates had only played a handful of low-key friendlies before this meeting with the side ranked ninth in the world.

There was, nevertheless, no excuse for the early goal that put more wind into the Canadians’ already billowing sails. Gemma Fay, the Scotland captain, was preferred in goal to her understudy Shannon Lynn, who had started in the previous match against Northern Ireland, but was caught in two minds when the Canadian captain Christine Sinclair sent a low cross into the box.

Fay appeared to have the ball covered, but hesitated and allowed Jessie Fleming to score from close range. The Canadian goal followed what proved to be one of Scotland’s best attacks of the game, but they made Signeul’s side pay a heavy price for giving the ball away cheaply in that raid.

“It was frustrating to lose two goals, which both came from our mistakes,” Beattie, who was one of Scotland’s best players, admitted. “Conceding the first so early was a big blow.

“It was a mix-up between Gemma and the defence, but that happens in football.”

Canada had several chances to go further ahead in the first half, including a powerful shot from Fleming that beat Fay but rebounded off the bar to safety. Scotland’s best effort of the game came early on, but Rachel Corsie’s powerful header from a Jane Ross corner was well saved by Erin McLeod.

The second half wasn’t as one-sided as the first, with the Scots coming more into the game after Sinclair had put Canada two ahead in the 55th minute with her 150th goal in international football.

Despite the scoreline there were some good performances in defence, including that of young Hibs right-back Kirsty Smith, who faced a tough task against players of the quality of Sinclair and the powerful Sophie Schmidt. Scotland coach Signeul said she wasn’t too despondent given Canada’s powerful display.

“They were very strong, as we expected them to be,” admitted Signeul. “They have been together for a long time now and they paid us the compliment of playing their strongest eleven.

“It was unfortunate to lose goals early in each half, but some individuals, such as Jenny Beattie, did very well.

“The performance felt quite solid, even if we didn’t have much ball possession in the first half.

“The thing was we couldn’t keep the ball further up the pitch. Even if we managed to escape their first pressure, which I thought we did well, the ball quickly came back again.”

In the other game in Group A, Italy, who Scotland are due to play on Friday, beat South Korea 2-1, also in Nicosia. England got off to a winning start in Group B, beating Finland 3-1 in Larnaca.

Scotland (4-2-3-1): Fay; Smith; Dieke; Beattie; Mitchell; Love (Fiona Brown 73); Corsie; Weir (L Ross 82); Little; Lauder; J Ross (Murray 87).

Canada (4-3-3): McLeod; Wilkinson; Buchanan; Moscato; Chapman; Schmidt; Scott; Fleming (Lawrence 72); Belanger (Leon 72); Sinclair (Julien 85); Tancredi (Filigno 72).

Referee: T Albon (Rom).