Live Blog: Canada victorious on late Viens goal
Published
In the aftermath of the drone scandal, defending gold medalists Canada open their 2024 Olympics slate with Group A action from Saint-Etienne. Follow along live with TSN.ca's Live Blog.
FULL-TIME - Canada 2, New Zealand 1
Canada opens its gold-medal defence with a 2-1 victory on Evelyne Viens' second-half goal
Play stopped with injury
Macey Fraser is in tears as she comes off with a left-leg injury, while Jade Rose and Grace Jale both go down after bumping heads elsewhere.
SUBSTITUTION - 90+4
Adriana Leon's afternoon is over as she's replaced by Shelina Zadorsky.
Desperate Ferns look for equalizer
Seconds after shouts for a penalty over a Beckie handball fell on deaf ears, Michaela Foster whipped a shot well over Sheridan's goal for what was New Zealand's best opportunity of the second half.
ADDED TIME - Eight minutes
The board shows eight minutes of stoppage time.
SUBSTITUTION - 87th
Kate Taylor is off for Gabi Rennie.
Buchanan goes into the book
Kadeisha Buchanan receives the first booking of the match in the 85th after taking down Riley just outside the area. Katie Kitching's subsequent free kick is hit well over the bar.
GOAL - 2-1 CANADA (Evelyne Viens)
Latching onto a deep ball from Fleming, Roma's Viens outmuscles her marker and drags her shot past Leat and makes it 2-1 in the 79th.
Canada still pressing
Fleming plays Viens in in the 72nd. On too poor of an angle to shoot, she cuts it back from the trailing Lawrence who hammers into the side netting.
Beckie takes a pop from distance
Building up a head of steam, Janine Beckie takes a shot from distance. It's well struck, but Leat gets down to wrap it up in the 70th.
SUBSTITUTION - 67th
Quinn makes way for Simi Awujo and Gabby Carle is off for Evelyne Viens.
SUBSTITUTION - 66th
Jacqui Hand is on for New Zealand for Milly Clegg.
Canada comes close again
In the 60th, a Fleming free kick is met by Quinn and their header is just cleared from the line by a fine save from Leat.
SUBSTITUTION - 58th
Macey Fraser is on for Malia Steinmetz and Michaela Foster comes on for goal scorer Mackenzie Barry.
SUBSTITUTION - 56th
Nichelle Prince and Cloe Lacasse make way for Jordyn Huitema and Janine Beckie.
Leon comes close
After some great work from Lawrence, Leon puts Barry on skates before taking her shot from close range that Leat keeps away from the near post in the 53rd. On the subsequent corner, Gilles' lofted header is gathered by Leat.
Good start for Canada
Canada has been keeping up the pressure on both flanks through Carle and Lacasse on one side and Lawrence on the other. In the 50th, Fleming's bouncing corner lands for Gilles and she skies it over the bar.
Early chance for Canada
Ashley Lawrence's ball into the area in the 48th meets Nichelle Prince and her effort goes outside the near post.
BACK UNDERWAY
Is there a winner to be had in the second half?
HALFTIME WHISTLE
Canada got their equalizer and it's all level after 45 minutes.
GOAL - 1-1 CANADA (Cloe Lacasse)
That was outstanding. Cloe Lacasse finished off a tremendous passing play that saw all of Ashley Lawrence, Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince involved to pull Canada even in first-half stoppage.
Prince just misses
In the 45th, Ashley Lawrence's cross falls right to Nichelle Prince at the goalmouth, but she pokes her shot just over the bar in what was Canada's best chance of the half.
Lacasse stopped by Leat
After being played in by Ashley Lawrence, Cloe Lacasse's left-footed effort from an angle was tame and gathered up by Leat. A replay showed that Lacasse might have been offside anyway.
Canada continues to press
Canada is still looking for an equalizer. Jade Rose sends an inviting cross into the area in the 34th, but Leon mistimes her header.
Nothing from Canada's first free kick
Jessie Fleming's free kick sails harmlessly into the arms of Leat in the 24th.
No call for Leon
Adriana Leon is taken to ground by CJ Stott about 30 yards out. She throws her hands up in frustration, but no foul is given from the ref.
Carle wins another corner
Gabby Carle has been trouble for New Zealand down the left. She wins another corner in the 18th, but Leon's effort lands directly into the hands of Anna Leat.
Canada tries to answer back immediately
Two quick chances for Gilles are repelled as Canada attempts to equalize in the 15th.
GOAL - 1-0 New Zealand (Mackenzie Barry)
Indiah-Paige Riley won a corner in the 11th. Katie Kitching's corner fell to defender Mackenzie Barry, who turned and fired under the bar to make it 1-0.
Nothing comes from short corner
Leon had the first corner of the match in the eighth. With Vanessa Gilles and Cloe Lacasse at the front of the net, Leon's effort was cleared by CJ Bott before Lacasse was called for a foul to end the danger.
Early chance ruled offside
Canada started brightly with a nice run from Ashley Lawrence down the left. She looked to find Adriana Leon near the penalty spot, but just missed her. Shortly thereafter the flag went up for offside.
KICK-OFF
The match is underway!
Riviere (ankle) out vs. Ferns
Manchester United defender Jayde Riviere has been ruled out of Thursday's match with an ankle injury picked up in training.
Gabby Carle of the Washington Spirit will replace her in the starting XI with veteran defender Shelina Zadorsky taking Riviere's spot on the active roster.
Canada's starting XI
Without manager Bev Priestman, Canada opens its campaign against New Zealand with no real surprises in its starting XI.
CANADA XI vs. NEW ZEALAND (3-4-3): Kailen Sheridan; Jade Rose, Vanessa Gilles, Kadeisha Buchanan; Ashley Lawrence, Jessie Fleming, Quinn, Gabby Carle; Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince, Cloe Lacasse
New Zealand starting XI announced
New Zealand's starting XI against Canada has been announced with longtime captain Ali Riley not on the roster due to injury.
NEW ZEALAND XI vs. CANADA (4-4-2): Anna Leat; Kate Taylor, Mackenzie Barry, CJ Bott, Rebekah Stott; Malia Steinmetz, Katie Kitching, Grace Jale; Indiah-Paige Riley, Milly Clegg