Final Score: Colombia 0-1 Canada
Goalscorers: Gilles 61′
Paris 2024 Olympic Games — Group Stage Match #3
In the wise words of Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser: “6 pts? Whatevs!”
Despite a six point deduction and a firestorm off the pitch during ‘Dronegate’, the Canadian women’s national team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, beating Colombia on Wednesday to confirm their spot in the knockout rounds.
Colombia got the first shot on target of the match in the 12th minute, with Marcela Restrepo heading the ball into the waiting arms of Kailen Sheridan. Adriana Leon gave the Colombians a scare in the 14th minute, sending a powerful volleyed shot just wide of the left post after being left alone in the penalty area. Canada came close again moments later as Jordyn Huitema sent a header around the right post after a great cross into the penalty area from Jessie Fleming.
Jorelyn Carabalí tested Sheridan from distance in the 28th minute, and Linda Caicedo broke through a line of defence and hit the target in the 42nd, but the Canadian goalkeeper was equal to it on both occasions, and again when Leicy Santos fired another shot from distance. Canada weren’t allowing Colombia to get into the box very often, with just one of their five shots coming from within 18 yards.
Canada was the opposite, with four of their six shots coming from close range. After the earlier misses from Leon and Huitema, Vanessa Gilles attempted an acrobatic shot in the 25th minute, but it too missed the target. Adriana Leon struck a wall of defenders with a free kick late in the half, firing the rebound into the wall as well.
The ball then ended up at the feet of Cloé Lacasse, whose shot was stopped by Katherine Tapia to keep the game scoreless going into the break.
Toujours à la recherche de l'ouverture du pointage#CANWNT #NousNeReculonsJamais pic.twitter.com/xF4wmZVcSe
— CANWNT (@CANWNT) July 31, 2024
Canada knew they could only advance to the quarterfinals with a victory, and came flying out of the gates after halftime. After being subbed on at the break for Lacasse, Nichelle Prince nearly created a goal immediately — getting in behind the Colombian backline and finding Huitema, whose shot was stopped by Tapia. Adriana Leon nearly caught the goalkeeper off guard from distance moments later, firing a shot from well outside the box that ended up on top of the net.
After continuing to knock on the door, Canada finally found the game’s first goal in the 61st minute. Vanessa Gilles, who scored Canada’s emotional late winner in Canada’s previous match against France, gave her team the lead with a header from another ball into the box from a Fleming free kick.
Soccer ⚽ : Vanessa Gilles ouvre la marque de la tête avec son deuxième but du tournoi 🇨🇦! 🚨
🇨🇦 1-0 🇨🇴@VanessaGilles @CANWNT #Paris2024 #JeuxOlympiques #rcsports #soccer pic.twitter.com/Gqr2ncFs1J
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) July 31, 2024
After the goal, Canada pushed for a second goal, but when they weren’t finding one, the mentality shifted to preservation of their lead as the clock ticked close to the 90th minute. After having most of the momentum in the second half, Canada were now being put under a lot of pressure from a Colombian side that were desperate for a goal that would have sent the Canadians packing.
Seven minutes of stoppage time came and went as Canada cleared the ball down the pitch and over the touchlines, with the anxious Canadian bench begging referee Rebecca Welch to blow the final whistle — and when that whistle came, they raced onto the field to celebrate booking their ticket into the knockout rounds. They will play Germany in the quarterfinals, a battle of the last two Olympic champions with a semifinal match against either the United States or Japan — and a guaranteed game for a medal — on the line.
Colombia ended up qualifying for the quarterfinals as well as one of the top third place teams, and will play reigning Women’s World Cup champions Spain in the next round. Also on that side of the bracket are Brazil and France.
As Canada move on in the competition — a situation that seemed improbable just a few days ago — they can play without the burden of a points deduction, without ongoing appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and with a sense of pride that comes from beating three good teams in a row. The situation Canadian players were in wasn’t because of them, but they battled through a tough week and can potentially play with a bit more freedom.
They are one win away from playing for a medal at a fourth consecutive Olympics. They will face a tough test against Germany, but if there’s anything this team has proven in Paris, it’s that you should never bet against them.
"When adversity and pressure comes, we really rely on each other" 🇨🇦
Vanessa Gilles scored her second goal of #Paris2024 in Canada's 1-0 win over Colombia to help the defending Olympic champions advance to the quarterfinals in women’s soccer pic.twitter.com/IoAKyUu7BJ
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) July 31, 2024
Box Score
Lineups
Colombia: Tapia; C. Arias, D. Arias, Carabalí, Vanegas; Quejada (Montoya 78′), Restrepo, Izquierdo, Caicedo; Santos, Pavi
Canada: Sheridan;Rose, Gilles (Zadorsky 85′), Buchanan; Lawrence; Beckie (Carle 85′), Fleming, Grosso (Quinn 74′) Lawrence; Leon (Viens 61′) Huitema, Lacasse (Prince 46′)
Goals
61′ — Vanessa Gilles (Canada)
Discipline
6′ — Yellow: Manuela Paví (Colombia)
19′ — Yellow: Yirleidys Quejada (Colombia)
45+3′ — Yellow: Adriana Leon (Canada)
90+3′ — Yellow: Linda Caicedo (Colombia)
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Vanessa Gilles, Canada
For the second match in a row, Gilles scored the winning goal for Canada, this time with a great header from a free kick to give Canada the lead. She also played a big role in Canada’s first clean sheet of the tournament, a central figure in Canada booking their spot in the quarterfinals.