Canada women’s football team defeats US for the first time in 20 year
The Canadian women’s soccer team has defeated its biggest rivals for the first time in 20 years, securing a spot in the gold medal match.
A two-decade-long losing streak has been broken by the Canadian women’s soccer team, which beat the US team in the Olympics semi-finals in Tokyo.
The incredible triumph came down to a 74th-minute penalty goal – the sole entry on the scoreboard for the entire game, cementing Canada’s 1-0 win.
It was just the second time the US side hasn’t qualified for the Olympic final since women’s football became an Olympic sport in 1996.
Out of the 61 prior games between the rival sides, the US team has lost to Canada just 10 times.
Monday’s loss was the first time Canada finished victorious against the US since 2001.
US veteran Megan Rapinoe was forced to come to grips with the likelihood the Tokyo Games was her final shot at an Olympics gold medal.
“We’ve been in this a long time together,” Rapinoe said of fellow vet Carli Lloyd, NBC San Diego reported.
“We’re both closer to the end than the beginning. We’ve shared so many happy moments on the field. Not many sad but we’ve had a few. One of the greatest players to pull that jersey on. We want to send everyone out on the best note but we weren’t able to do that.”
The American team still has a chance to claim a bronze medal, with it to play whichever side loses in Monday evening’s match between Australia and Sweden.
The bronze medal match will be held on August 5.
It comes after Friday evening’s nailbiting match between Australia and Great Britain.
Australia finished ahead 4-3, with captain Sam Kerr putting on a showstopping performance.
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