Jessie Fleming scored a second-half penalty as Canada surprised four-time Olympic ladies’s soccer champions the United States 1-0 Monday to succeed in the ultimate for the primary time. Fleming’s nerveless 74th-minute spot-kick earned Canada a primary win over their neighbours since 2001 and arrange a conflict with Sweden, who beat Australia 1-0 within the second semi-final. Defeat ended the Americans’ 36-match unbeaten run in opposition to Canada. The world champions will face Australia for the comfort of a bronze medal.
“It sucks, clearly, you by no means wish to lose,” stated US ahead Megan Rapinoe.
“You by no means wish to lose, you by no means wish to lose in a world championship, you by no means wish to lose to Canada, clearly, and also you by no means wish to lose taking part in the way in which we did.”
“There’s 100 issues we’d all wish to do higher. I feel that’s essentially the most irritating factor for all of us,” she added. “It’s a tough one to swallow.”
The US and Canada mixed for seven targets the final time they met on the Olympics, a memorable 4-3 semi-final win for the US after additional time at Old Trafford in 2012.
Canada finally completed with bronze 9 years in the past and ended third at Rio 2016 as effectively.
“There’s some veterans on the workforce that also really feel that damage from 2012. I’m simply over the moon for that group of gamers,” stated Canada coach Bev Priestman.
“Winners win and we’re going into this remaining to completely go and get a gold medal.”
US LOSE NAEHER TO INJURY
It wasn’t till the introduction of Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Christen Press on the hour that the US recorded a primary shot on course, a curling strike from Lloyd tipped over by Stephanie Labbe.
By that time the US had misplaced goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the hero of their quarter-final win over the Dutch on penalties, to damage.
Naeher, who saved a spot-kick in regular time and two extra within the shootout in opposition to the 2019 World Cup runners-up, required prolonged remedy to her proper knee after touchdown awkwardly within the first half.
She battled on for a couple of minutes however was finally changed by Adrianna Franch.
Labbe stopped two penalties herself in a shootout as Canada edged Brazil within the earlier spherical, and she or he produced one other sharp save to maintain out Julie Ertz’s header at a nook.
The US had superior to each Olympic remaining apart from at Rio 2016, the place they misplaced to eventual runners-up Sweden on penalties within the final eight.
Yet that they had gained simply as soon as in 4 matches over 90 minutes in Japan, and fell behind when Canada have been awarded a tender penalty following a VAR assessment.
Deanne Rose put Tierna Davidson below strain chasing a free ball and the Canadian went sprawling after a tangle of legs, with the referee pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside monitor.
Fleming tucked the penalty past Franch, and there could be no comeback from the Americans — Lloyd’s header clipping the bar within the remaining minutes as their Olympics got here to a tame finish.
Sweden will get the prospect to make amends for his or her loss to Germany within the 2016 remaining after getting the higher of Australia in Yokohama.
Fridolina Rolfo, who hit the crossbar within the first half, struck the decisive purpose simply after the break.
Ellie Carpenter was despatched off deep into stoppage time for Australia after hauling down Lina Hurtig.
