MARBELLA — Substitute Evelyne Viens' 85th-minute goal gave Canada a 2-1 victory over Australia on Saturday in a warm-up match ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Nichelle Prince also scored for eighth-ranked Canada.

Sharn Freier replied for 12th-ranked Australia.

Freier, making his first start, was a last-minute addition to Australia's starting ace after Caitlin Foord felt a tightness in her quadriceps during warm-ups.

Saturday's match was considered a Tier 2 match which does not count towards standings or statistics, as there were no limits on substitutions or substitution windows.

The Canadians will play one final match behind closed doors next Wednesday before the matches. Canada Soccer has not revealed the opponent.

Canada started well, but Freier opened the scoring in the 24th minute, receiving a pass from Mary Fowler in the penalty area and moving the ball to her left foot before firing a shot past Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan at the near post.

Canada equalized in the 41st minute when Prince's shot was missed by Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold on a cross from Chloe Lacasse. Arnold, recently signed by the NWSL's Portland Thorns, is teammates with Canadian captain Jessie Fleming and Janine Beckie.

The winning goal came after Gabbie Carle stripped possession from a defender in the Matildas box and passed to Viens, who finished from close range.

Canadian players based in Europe have been in camp in Spain since July 4, and North American players will join the team on July 8.

Canada will begin its Olympic title defense on July 25 in Pool A against New Zealand (28th) before facing France (2nd) on July 28 and Colombia (22nd) on July 31.

The match against Australia gave the Canadians a chance to get a taste of what New Zealand has to offer. The Canadians are coming off a two-game series against Mexico, which was seen as a chance to see what kind of game Colombia plays.

Canada entered Saturday's game with a 10-8-3 record against Australia, including 5-0 and 1-0 victories over British Columbia in December in a series that marked the final international appearances for longtime captain Christine Sinclair.

It was the first meeting between the teams since World Cup co-hosts Australia ended with a humiliating 4-0 victory in Melbourne last July. That defeat relegated Canada to third place in Group B and the return trip, while Australia finished fourth.

Sheridan started in goal Saturday behind a strong lineup that included Jade Rose, Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Giles, Jayde Riviere, Ashley Lawrence, Simi Awujo, Fleming, Lacasse, Prince and Adriana Leon.

Carle, Viens, Beckie, Shelina Zadorsky, Quinn, Julia Grosso, Deanne Rose and Jordyn Huitema came off the bench for Canada.

Australia were also without injured Kaitlyn Torpey, Steph Catley, Teagan Micah and Tameka Yallop. The Matildas will play in Group B at the Olympics alongside No.4 Germany, No.5 USA and No.64 Zambia.

Fountain