For the first time ever, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will play for an Olympic Gold Medal after their 1:0 win over USA in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Semi-finals. Jessie Fleming converted a penalty in the 75’ minute, which secured this momentous win for Canada and their place on the podium for a third consecutive time. By reaching the Final, Canada will become just the third nation to win medals at three successive Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments, joining USA (1996 to 2012) and Germany (2000 to 2008).
“All credit to
\u200bthe players, they left everything out there. It meant so much to them to get to
\u200bthis Final. I think you saw that in the shift that they’ve put in,” said Head
\u200bCoach Bev Priestman. “There’s some veterans on this team that still feel
\u200bthat hurt from London 2012. I’m over the moon for that group of players to get
\u200bthat, and someone like Christine now gets to go to an Olympic Final, they’ve
\u200bdone so much for the program. For us, we were clear, we wanted to change the
\u200bcolour of the medal. Winners win and we’re going into that final to get a gold
\u200bmedal. “
Canada remains undefeated at Tokyo 2020 with a 3-0-2
\u200brecord and is the only nation in the world to reach the podium at London 2012,
\u200bat Rio 2016, and at Tokyo 2020 in women’s football. Entering Tokyo 2020, Canada
\u200bwas the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer
\u200bOlympic Games and will build on that record by guaranteeing that they change
\u200bthe colour of the medal with their advancement to the Gold Medal match. This 1:0
\u200bvictory also marks Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team’s first win over USA
\u200bin 20 years.
“Our goal heading here was to change the colour of the medal after back-to-back bronze medals. What a performance, what a fight, I’m just so proud of our team, and one more to go,” said Captain Christine Sinclair. “For those of us who were part of 2012, it was nice to get a little revenge in an Olympic Semi-finals. This is a very unique and special group, one I’m very proud to be part of, we fight for everything. Job one is done for us, changing the colour of the medal, but now that we’re in the Final, we go for it. This tournament is grueling, that’s why I’m proud that we have 22 players strong that can step on the field and make a difference and they have this tournament.”
Canada qualified for the Semi-finals with a win on penalty kicks over Brazil in the Quarter-finals. The depth of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team has been key to Canada’s advancement to the Gold Medal match with eight players making their Olympic debuts (Kailen Sheridan, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens, Julia Grosso, Jayde Riviere, Vanessa Gilles, Jordyn Huitema, and Gabrielle Carle) and all 22 players of Canada’s extended roster having dressed during the competition.
Of note, Head
\u200bCoach Bev Priestman was the only female Head Coach leading their team in the
\u200bSemi-finals having served as an Assistant Coach with Canada when they won their
\u200bBronze Medal at Rio 2016.
“This is my first
\u200bwin ever against the USA and what a perfect time to win against them, said
\u200bKadeisha Buchanan. “We got the win and we got the goal. The job’s not done for
\u200bus.”
Canada will play Sweden in the Olympic Gold Medal match in Tokyo on Friday, 6 August at 11.00 local (Thursday, 5 August at 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT) with a live broadcast on CBC.ca.
Canada came out
\u200bready for the US press. Vanessa Gilles stepped forward to play a long, direct
\u200bball out of the back to Jessie Fleming in the first minute to relieve the
\u200bpressure. Ashley Lawrence and Fleming combined well wide in the 2’ to the same
\u200beffect.
Canada’s
\u200bdefensive organization has been a strength all competition and Christine
\u200bSinclair showed in the 5’ that she remained committed heading a free kick
\u200bclear. Nichelle Prince also tracked back in the 10’ showing Canada’s resolve to
\u200bdefensive organization. Fleming played through to Prince in the 18’ but the
\u200bball was just out of reach.
A few minutes
\u200blater, US GK Allysa Naeher went down awkwardly in her box. After a lengthy delay
\u200band attempt to remain in the game the US had to make an injury replacement with
\u200bAdrianna French entering the match. Janine Beckie contributed to the focus on defensive
\u200btransition in the 31’ working back to apply pressure and force problems for the
\u200bUS.
With six minutes
\u200bof added time at the end of the first half, the US began to pressure. Alex
\u200bMorgan’s header midway through the injury time was the best chance for the US,
\u200bhowever, and was well wide.
Canada continued
\u200btheir composed play out of the back to start the second half. Kadeisha Buchanan
\u200band Lawrence each making vital dribbles to play out of pressure in the 47’.
\u200bGilles ownership of the Canadian 18-yard box was also a staple of the second
\u200bhalf. Midway through the second half, the US began to attack in waves after a
\u200btriple substitution. Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé was up to the task. making
\u200btwo key fingertip saves over the bar, punching away a dangerous set piece and
\u200bstopping a point-blank Lindsay Horan attempt in the span of five minutes around
\u200bthe 65’.
Christen Press’
\u200b71’ shot was saved by Labbé in what was to become a turning point in the match.
\u200bJust two minutes later, Deanne Rose took the ball into the US area and was
\u200bupended by Tierna Davidson. No call was made, but, a minute later Referee
\u200bKateryna Monzul was called to the VAR review booth and the PK was given. Jessie
\u200bFleming stepped up and fired past US backup Franch to give Canada the lead in
\u200bthe 75’.
With 15 minutes
\u200bto play, Canada committed to defend. Lawrence gave Megan Rapinoe all she could
\u200bhandle wide right, with Rose coming back to defend as well in the 82’. The US
\u200bcame close in the 86’ as second-half substitute Carly Lloyd headed off the
\u200bcrossbar, but Canada were able to make two late substitutions and hold on.
Canada’s starting
\u200bXI featured Stephanie Labbé in goal, Ashley Lawrence at right back, Vanessa
\u200bGilles and Kadeisha Buchanan at centre back, Allysha Chapman at left back, and
\u200bQuinn, Desiree Scott, Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair and
\u200bNichelle Prince from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half,
\u200bHead Coach Bev Priestman replaced Quinn with Julia Grosso and Prince with
\u200bDeanne Rose (60’), Sinclair with Jordyn Huitema (88’), and Rose with Adriana
\u200bLeon (90’).
OLYMPIC MEDAL
\u200bWINNERS & CONCACAF CHAMPIONS
Canada are
\u200btwo-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time Concacaf
\u200bchampions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in seven
\u200bconsecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2019) and three
\u200bconsecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2016).
\u200bAt Rio 2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian
\u200bOlympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than
\u200ba century.
Canada Soccer’s
\u200bWomen’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles:
\u200bthe 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf
\u200bWomen’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15
\u200bChampionship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s
\u200bWorld Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all six editions of the
\u200bFIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).