Soccer spiers Canada bumped out of Olympics
Canada’s contentious title defence in the Olympic women’s football tournament is over, beaten in a penalty shootout by Germany in the quarter-finals.
After being outed for spying on opposition teams on the eve of the Games, Canada defied a six-point penalty to qualify from their group into the knockout rounds.
Following a scoreless draw, German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger came up trumps in spot kicks, saving two Canadian penalties for a 4-2 shootout win in Marseille on Saturday.
The shock and shame of the drone spying operation has been one of the stories of the 2024 Olympics, and will prompt further investigations and introspection.
The team’s English coach Bev Priestman was suspended and sent home, along with two assistants, including one who was detained by French police and given a suspended jail sentence.
Canada Soccer was handed a $US227,000 ($A349,000) fine, with chief executive Kevin Blue admitting “systemic ethical shortcoming” by his organisation.
On Saturday night, however, there was just disappointment from the Canadian players, who insisted they had no knowledge of the subterfuge and had to dig deep to overcome the impact of the scandal.
“I can’t quite find the tears because I shed them all this past week,” Canada defender Vanessa Gilles said.
“To have gotten this far, I think is a testament to our group.”
Germany’s reward is a semi-final against the United States, who won through with a 1-0 defeat of Japan in Paris, with Trinity Rodman scoring the game’s only goal in extra-time.
USA coach Emma Hayes called Japan “exceptional” and the world’s best defensive team.
“Sometimes it just takes a little bit of magic, and little bit of individual brilliance, and that’s what Trin did,” Rodman’s teammate Mallory Swanson said.
Rodman described the goal as “the best moment in my career”.
On the other side of the draw, hosts France were turfed out by Brazil and Colombia suffered heartbreak against world champions Spain.
Colombia led 2-0 when star forward Linda Caicedo was injured and left the field on a stretcher in the 66th minute.
Goals from Spanish stars Jenni Hermoso and Irene Paredes – in the 97th minute – took their contest to extra time, before another dreaded penalty shootout.
Spain won the shootout 4-2 with Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati scoring the decisive spot kick.
Capping an action-packed day in women’s football, Brazil held out the host nation in Nantes in a hot-tempered clash.
Gabi Portilho scored an 82nd minute winner before the South Americans clung on during an incredible 19 minutes of second-half injury time featuring a clutch of chances to both sides and four yellow cards.
Their victory extends the international career of Brazilian great Marta, the six-time world player of the year, who is retiring from the national team after the Olympics.
The 38-year-old was suspended from the quarter-final but celebrated wildly in the stands as Brazil progressed.
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