Gutsy. Courageous. Fearless. Resilient. All apply when describing the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team’s 2-1 comeback win against France at the Olympic Games in Saint-Étienne Sunday
In a game Canada needed to win to avoid elimination at the group stage of the Paris Olympics, Vanessa Gilles played hero late in second-half stoppage time.
The Quebec-born defender fired a rebound into the bottom corner to earn Canada a dramatic win against the hosts. Team captain Jesse Fleming had earlier cancelled out France’s first half opening goal.
Canada faced the must-win situation Sunday due to the six-point deduction incurred for the drone spy scandal that broke earlier in the week.
‘We’re not cheaters. We’re damn good players. We’re a damn good team.’
An emotional and frank Gilles spoke passionately of her team’s character, resilience, and pride in her post-game interview with CBC.
“Heck we have nothing to lose, ” admitted Gilles. We haven’t slept in the last three days. We haven’t eaten, we’ve been crying. I wouldn’t say they’re ideal performing situations but we’ve held each other through it and we’ve had absolutely nothing to lose. What’s given us energy is each other, is our determination. Our pride to prove people wrong. Our pride to represent this country when all this shit is coming out about our values about our representation as Canadians. It’s not us, like I’ve said, time and time again defending ourselves.
“We’re not cheaters. We’re damn good players. We’re a damn good team, and we proved that today,” Gilles added.
Gilles’ sensational late goal means Canada keeps their gold medal defense alive. The Canadian’s will advance to the knockout stages with a victory over Colombia Wednesday.
Loading ...Canada will play the remainder of the tournament without head coach Bev Priestman, who was banned from all football activity by FIFA because of the drone incidents.
But Canada’s interim head coach Andy Spence was extremely proud of the entire team.
“The players deserve every part of the credit that comes their way because they have such an ability to be resilient,” Spence said post-game in an interview with CBC. “They definitely woke up this morning with one intention and that was to win this game and I’m so proud of everyone.
“We came into this tournament to win all three of our group games and that’s what we’re setting out to do. Now it’s about recovering because we’ve got another tough fixture against Colombia.”
France outplay Canada in the first half
The match had a fast-paced start with both teams controlling the ball and creating some chances. It was an evenly matched first 20 minutes as both teams tried to feel each other out.
France demonstrated its speed and skill in transition, using their accurate long passes and wingers’ speed to test Canada’s fullbacks and create chances down the flanks.
The final 15 minutes of the half saw the scales tip in France’s favour.
France was able to get numbers high up the pitch, maintain possession in the final third, pin Canada back in their own defensive half, and press high when Canada regained possession in order to create a turnovers.
France’s control of the match paid off in the 42nd minute when a well-executed passing play was finished off by forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The forward controlled the cross and dribbled between three Canadian defenders before passing it into the bottom left corner.
And France took a deserved lead into halftime.
Despite being excellent defensively for much of the opening 45 minutes, Canada lacked an offensive spark and wasn’t able to generate much going forward.
Canada had only 27 per cent possession and generated only three shot attempts. France carved out five attempts and two shots on target.
Canada throws the kitchen sink at the second half
Facing elimination, Canada needed to push forward and be more aggressive in the final third after halftime.
And the Canadian women were more fluid in possession in the second half, controlled more of the ball, and began to create more chances.
Simi Awujo had good chance from close range in the 53rd minute but shot it right at the keeper. Some fans may have worried that Canada’s inconsistency in front of goal would remain an issue.
But they kept pressing and eventually found the breakthrough when Ashley Lawrence’s cross into the box was pushed by France’s keeper onto the feet of Fleming, who made no mistake, slotting the loose ball home to equalize in the 57th minute.
Canada’s Jesse Fleming celebrates her goal against France at the Olympic Games Sunday. Photo: Canada Soccer
The goal inspired Canada forward, the momentum shifting heavily in their favour. Canada controlled possession in the final half hour of normal time and created more scoring chances. Canada was throwing the kitchen sink at France, knowing anything but a win wouldn’t do.
In the 80th minute, Canada was denied a transition attack after an offside in the buildup. Five minutes later, substitute Janine Becky’s shot across the box just missed outside the far post.
Canada’s subs, including Adriana Leon, Janine Becky, Evelyn Viens, and Julia Grosso, all made an impact offensively with their speed, playmaking, and ball movement.
In the ninth of 13 minutes of stoppage time, Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan made a tournament-saving stop, denying France a winner. The save would prove crucial, as minutes later, Gilles scored the winner.
And the rest is history.
What a game. What a moment. What a team.
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