2024 Olympics: Gilles plays hero again for Canada against Colombia | OneFootball

Canada faced Colombia with all to play for on the final day of the group stage. Any result other than a win would have sent the Canucks home, but Vanessa Gilles was not going to let that happen. A single goal was enough to send the Canadians through to the quarter finals as they finished second in Group A.

The Canada women’s national team is heading to the Olympic quarterfinals despite the six-point penalty from FIFA over the drone scandal. Here’s how the victory over Colombia at Stade de Nice went down.

Starting XIs

Colombia

Tapia (GK), Vanegas, Minota, C. Arias, D. Arias, Izquierdo, Carabali, Caicedo, Restrepo, Pavi, Santos.

Canada

Sheridan (GK), Rose, Gilles, Buchanan, Lawrence, Grosso, Fleming, Lacasse, Beckie, Leon, Huitema.

First half

The first half was hardly fraught with action. The two sides each gave their opponent little to work with throughout, and chances were few. Jordyn Huitema had a glorious opportunity to put Canada ahead early, but her diving header sailed just wide. Colombia sent a few long range efforts at Kailen Sheridan but the Canadian keeper was up to the task.

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Second half

The second half saw more pressing, with the Canadians knowing that anything less than a win would spell the end of their Olympic hopes. In the 61st minute their dream was answered by a familiar hero. Jessie Fleming took a free kick from the right side of the box and sent it straight across goal. Gilles got free, and planted a perfect rising header in the back of the net. After rescuing the team against France earlier in the group stage with her last-minute heroics, Gilles now has two goals in as many matches.

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Canada was able to hold off Colombia for the rest of the half, and the side exploded in joy at the final whistle. After being fined six points during the tournament, their hopes looked dismal to defend their gold medal. They now head into the quarter-finals, along with Colombia and France from their group.

Next up

Colombia will face Spain in the quarter-finals at 16:00 BST on Saturday. Canada will face Germany in the next match, at 18:00. As has been throughout these Olympics, the matches will stream on Discovery+ in the UK and Peacock in the US.

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