Women's World Cup hosts Canada top Group A after Netherlands draw

Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports

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Substitute Kirsten Van De Ven scored in the 87th minute as the Netherlands earned a 1-1 draw with hosts Canada at the Women's World Cup on Monday.

Canada still finished first in Group A with a win and two draws and will begin single-game knockout play Sunday in Vancouver against an opponent still to be determined. China was second in the group and the Netherlands with a win a loss and a draw was third.

Ashley Lawrence scored early for Canada but the Dutch were a threat all night with their counterattacking game and got the equalizer with three minutes left in regular time.

A crowd of 45,420 at Olympic Stadium saw coach John Herdman make four line-up changes looking for offense from a Canadian team whose only goal in the opening two games was on a penalty.

Canada had the early pressure and Lawrence got a goal 10 minutes in on a play that started with a throw-in deep in Netherlands territory. The ball deflected to Sophie Schmidt who slipped it to Lawrence for a shot that went in off goalkeeper Loes Geurts' knee.

Lawrence nearly added another a minute later but her low shot missed the left post.

The Netherlands played much as it did in its first two matches conceding the bulk of possession but looking dangerous on the counterattack.

The visitors missed a chance on a quick counter in the 83rd minute when Manon Melis broke in alone on the left side but Erin McLeod kept it out with her best save of the game.

Four minutes later, Carmelina Moscato's clearance attempt failed and Melis slipped the ball to Van De Ven who was all alone at the edge of the area to score. It was the first goal that Canada has conceded at the tournament.