Canada is in the final of the women’s Olympic football tournament. A Jesse Fleming penalty helped Bev Priestman’s side beat favorites USA 1–0 in Kashima.
Big celebration in the Canadian camp: a penalty goal made it 1-0.
AFP via Getty Images
Megan Rapinoe annoyed as she pulls her shin guard out of her socks, Carli Lloyd sits on the grass in shock. The United States’ world champions couldn’t believe the abrupt end of their Olympic gold mission in the semifinals.
“Of course it sucks, you never want to lose. Especially not against Canada and the way we played,” Rapinoe retorted after a 1-0 (0-0) loss to North American rivals. The star ensemble, spoiled by success, lacked bite, so only the game for bronze remains on Friday (11 a.m. CEST, LIVE! at Kicker). The opponent in the second semi-final determines the Olympic silver medalist Sweden and Australia.
Canada won gold for the first time
Jesse Fleming (75th, penalty kick) ensured Canada’s first win in 20 years against their dominant neighbors in Kashima after a shaky first half. The four-time tournament winner missed out on the Olympic final for the second time in a row, while the 2016 and 2012 Olympic bronze medalists are playing for gold for the first time.
The American team got its first blow after just 30 minutes. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naher, a famous heroine (4:2 pens) suffered an injury in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands and was replaced by Adriana French. When Fleming scored the winning goal, it appeared to be a right corner, but the penalty was well placed.
goals and cards
0:1Fleming (75′, penalty kick)
America
Canada
game Info
stadion
Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium
After gold in Rio in 2016, the German selection missed qualifying for Tokyo due to the quarter-finals at the 2019 World Cup.
