Canadian women edge France with late goal in Olympic soccer

SAINT-ETIENNE, France — Sleepless nights, skipped meals and group crying sessions have been the norm for the Canadian women's soccer team over an unforgettable opening week at the Paris Games.

Host France nearly delivered a knockout blow on Sunday night. Instead it was the visitors who played like the defending champions they are.

Vanessa Gilles scored in the 12th minute of injury time to give Canada a stunning 2-1 comeback victory and life in the tournament.

The result came a day after FIFA docked the squad six points - the equivalent of two wins - in the standings after a Canada Soccer drone spying scandal.

"We have zero points and we're very happy," said Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who stoned Grace Geyoro in injury time to keep the game tied.

Canada has a chance to advance if it can get back to the three-point mark with a victory in another must-win game Wednesday against Colombia in Nice.

The eighth-ranked Canadians opened with a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Thursday. The result came three days after a Canadian coaching analyst was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand's practices.

It triggered a series of daily news announcements that put the squad in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

In addition to the docking of points, three coaches - including head coach Bev Priestman - were banned for one year and the federation was fined the equivalent of about $313,000.

The Canadian Olympic Committee has said it is considering an appeal of the six-point penalty.

The scandal hung over the Canadian team all week as the squad prepared to defend the title it won three years ago in Tokyo. There's no suggestion that the players were involved in the spying, but the constant developments have been taxing.

"Sometimes the stars align even when everything is going against you," said Gilles. "It's just a lot of pride. I've never felt so many emotions in a game, even in the Olympic final."

Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored in the 42nd minute for the host side and captain Jessie Fleming tallied for Canada in the 58th minute.

Needing the victory to have any hope of advancing, Canada pressed hard after notching the equalizer.

With just one minute left in extra time, the lively crowd at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium was hushed when a rebound from a Jordyn Huitema one-timer rolled to Gilles, who converted a left-footed shot that glanced off the post and in.

"I think I was able to repeat, 'Just frame it, frame it, frame it' about 50 times before I actually hit the ball," Gilles said. "So it was definitely a Matrix moment."

Earlier, Katoto flashed some slick footwork before opening the scoring. She cut inside on two Canadian defenders and slotted a low ball through Gilles' legs that beat Sheridan inside the post.

Acting head coach Andy Spence turned to Adriana Leon as a substitute to start the second half and it helped spark the Canadians. Simi Awujo had a good chance in the 54th minute before Canada converted in the 58th.

Huitema found Ashley Lawrence by the corner of the box and her low cross forced goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to make a diving stab at the ball, which hit Fleming in the chest before she tapped it in.

Peyraud-Magnin was hit in the face by a sliding defender on the play and taken off the field on a stretcher. She was replaced by Constance Picaud.

The extended delay pushed the injury time to 13 minutes. Canada needed almost all of them to complete a win that many players said was the most emotional victory they've ever experienced.

"Just 12 hours ago we were in a circle crying our eyes out after hearing about the news," Gilles said. "Punching walls. Crying our eyes out again. Laughing about it in delusion and then crying again. It's been three days where none of us have really slept. None of us have been able to really eat. Lots of tears.

"It's just been a lot and to go out like we did and beat the second-best team in the world at their home with the stress and emotion and everything going on, it's just pride. That's the only thing I can tell you I'm feeling right now is pride."

The players have tried to stay off social media and keep the distractions to a minimum. They'll enjoy a well-earned off-day Monday as they travel to Nice.

Fleming did look at her phone earlier Sunday to read a text-message from retired superstar and former team captain Christine Sinclair. It was a pleasant reminder that the support back home remains strong.

"I think it has brought us closer," Fleming said of the challenges. "It feels like us against the world right now.

"All of our focus has just been on each other because that's all we have to lean on right now."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2024.

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