1-1 (2-3). Canada wins gold in painful penalties – Fútbol Internacional

From the start the scent was clear to the end. No team wanted to risk more than the reckoning, realizing what was at stake and it was the Scandinavian team that took the lead, as was customary during the rest of the tournament.

This ball movement was joined by the search for a shot on goal as soon as there was the slightest chance, and ended with ten shots during the first half. The first was already a warning. Jakobson’s cross in the 9th minute that Ericsson, the left-back, hit it first, and joined the area, although his shot went too far.

In the final you can’t make mistakes, and every team made a mistake that made us resort to penalties. It was pushed first by Canada, who resisted the Swedish attack until Quinn trusted the ball, losing it and leaving his defense misplaced. Aslani put the ball to Blackstein to score his sixth goal in the tournament in the 34th minute.

A blow from which the North American team doesn’t seem to recover, until Sweden gives him an extra life. Ilestedt committed a penalty to Sinclair when trying to advance into the area, but he was late, and although Russian referee Anastasia Pustovoytova did not initially see him, the Video Referee System (VAR) did its job and issued the maximum penalty.

Fleming did his job and in the 66th minute scored 1-1, which raised doubts in the Scandinavian team. He almost lost the lead just two minutes later after a poor start by Lindahl, but Bjorn managed to pry the ball into the small penalty area before hitting the goal.

And the tense calm returned, until the 89th hour, the previous situation was reversed. This time it was Sweden that got Aslani’s boot with a score of 2-1, but Buchanan avoided danger in time.

In extra time, both teams showed fatigue and fear of losing. But Sweden was on hand to win at the last minute. First, on a triple occasion, it took advantage of several rejections and, above all, on top of Hurtig in m.118 who failed to communicate well despite being alone in the area.

The excitement that extra time lacked were the penalties. Sweden’s Aslani started with a flop, but Canada didn’t take advantage of it and the second, third and fourth shootouts were missed. Against all odds, Caroline Seeger missed an opportunity to award Sweden their first Olympic gold, sending up the fifth court, turning the table.

The Scandinavians missed the fourth, fifth and sixth shootouts, twice saving Stephanie Lapp, and Julie Angela Grosso, in her twenties, scored the final, historic goal for Canada. The United States completes the Olympic podium with a bronze medal.

– data sheet:

1 – Sweden: Lindahl; Glass, Elstedt (Kohlberg, AD 120), Bjorn, Ericsson (Anderson, AD 75); Engeldahl (Benison, AD 75), Seeger; Jacobson (Horig, m.75), Aslani, Rulfo (Shaw, m. 106); and Blackstenius (Anvergard, AD 106).

1 – Canada: LAB; Lawrence, Gill; Buchanan, Chapman (Rivier, AD 93); Scott (Zardowsky, AD 120), Fleming, Quinn (Grosso, AD 46), Sinclair (Hetema, 86); Becky (Lyon, M46) and Prince (Rose, M63).

Rounds: 1-0, min. 34: Blacksteinius. 1-1, min. 66: Fleming.

Referee: Anastasia Postovoitova (Russia) cautioned against Aslani (M 105) for Sweden and Becky (M 27) in Canada.

Accidents: The match corresponding to the women’s soccer final at the Tokyo Olympic Games, which was held at the International Stadium. From Yokohama No audience due to restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.