The Canada women’s national football team won the gold medal at the Olympic Games for the first time and replaced the German team. In the final, which was moved from Tokyo to Yokohama, the Canadian won 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Friday. After 120 minutes it was 1:1. Stina Blakstenius (34th minute) gave Sweden the lead, while substitute Jeanne Becky (67th) gave extra time with her own goal from a penalty.
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Sweden looked like the winner on penalties with a 2-1 lead, but Canada leveled again after five shots. Julia Grosso converted the deciding penalty after goalkeeper Stephanie Labe made the first save. Canada won the bronze medal in both 2012 and 2016.
The day before, bronze went to the American team around top star Megan Rapinoe with a 4:3 (3:1) in the game for third place against Australia. After four gold successes (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012) and two consecutive World Cup titles, the Americans were actually considered gold favorites in Tokyo as well. Canada won against the US in the semi-finals. The German Rio Olympic champions failed to qualify for the Games in Japan.
The final was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. local time at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. But due to the expected afternoon heat, both the teams had requested to be shifted to the evening. However, since athletics events were taking place at the national stadium at the time, the game at the International Stadium in Yokohama was rescheduled for 9 p.m.
