Gilles' stoppage-time winner against France keeps Canada's Olympic women's soccer hopes alive
Gregory Strong | The Canadian Press | Posted: July 28, 2024 8:00 AM | Last Updated: July 29
'We're not cheaters, we're damn good players ... we proved that today,' Gilles said
Sleepless nights, skipped meals and group crying sessions have been the norm for the Canadian women's soccer team over an unforgettable opening week at the Paris Games.
Host France nearly delivered a knockout blow on Sunday night. Instead it was the visitors who played like the defending champions they are.
Vanessa Gilles scored in the 12th minute of injury time to give Canada a stunning 2-1 comeback victory and life in the tournament.
The result came a day after FIFA docked the squad six points — the equivalent of two wins — in the standings after a Canada Soccer drone spying scandal.
"We have zero points and we're very happy," said Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, who stoned Grace Geyoro in injury time to keep the game tied.
WATCH l Gilles' late goal gives Canada 2-1 victory over host France:
Canada has a chance to advance if it can get back to the three-point mark with a victory in another must-win game Wednesday against Colombia in Nice.
The eighth-ranked Canadians opened with a 2-1 win over New Zealand on Thursday. The result came three days after a Canadian coaching analyst was caught using a drone to spy on New Zealand's practices.
It triggered a series of daily news announcements that put the squad in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
In addition to the docking of points, three coaches — including head coach Bev Priestman — were banned for one year and the federation was fined the equivalent of about $313,000.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has said it is considering an appeal of the six-point penalty.
The scandal hung over the Canadian team all week as the squad prepared to defend the title it won three years ago in Tokyo. There's no suggestion that the players were involved in the spying, but the constant developments have been taxing.
"Sometimes the stars align even when everything is going against you," said Gilles. "It's just a lot of pride. I've never felt so many emotions in a game, even in the Olympic final."
Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored in the 42nd minute for the host side and captain Jessie Fleming tallied for Canada in the 58th minute.
Needing the victory to have any hope of advancing, Canada pressed hard after notching the equalizer.
With just one minute left in extra time, the lively crowd at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium was hushed when a rebound from a Jordyn Huitema one-timer rolled to Gilles, who converted a left-footed shot that glanced off the post and in.
"I think I was able to repeat, 'Just frame it, frame it, frame it' about 50 times before I actually hit the ball," Gilles said. "So it was definitely a Matrix moment."
Earlier, Katoto flashed some slick footwork before opening the scoring. She cut inside on two Canadian defenders and slotted a low ball through Gilles' legs that beat Sheridan inside the post.
Acting head coach Andy Spence turned to Adriana Leon as a substitute to start the second half and it helped spark the Canadians. Simi Awujo had a good chance in the 54th minute before Canada converted in the 58th.
Huitema found Ashley Lawrence by the corner of the box and her low cross forced goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to make a diving stab at the ball, which hit Fleming in the chest before she tapped it in.
Peyraud-Magnin was hit in the face by a sliding defender on the play and taken off the field on a stretcher. She was replaced by Constance Picaud.
'We're not cheaters, we're damn good players'
The extended delay pushed the injury time to 13 minutes. Canada needed almost all of them to complete a win that many players said was the most emotional victory they've ever experienced.
"Just 12 hours ago we were in a circle crying our eyes out after hearing about the news," Gilles said after the match. "Punching walls. Crying our eyes out again. Laughing about it in delusion and then crying again. It's been three days where none of us have really slept. None of us have been able to really eat. Lots of tears.
"We're not cheaters, we're damn good players, we're a damn good team and we proved that today," Gilles added.
The players have tried to stay off social media and keep the distractions to a minimum. They'll enjoy a well-earned off-day Monday as they travel to Nice.
Fleming did look at her phone earlier Sunday to read a text-message from retired superstar and former team captain Christine Sinclair. It was a pleasant reminder that the support back home remains strong.
"I think it has brought us closer," Fleming said of the challenges. "It feels like us against the world right now. All of our focus has just been on each other because that's all we have to lean on right now."
Colombia 2, New Zealand 0
Colombia recovered from opening loss to France by beating New Zealand, 2-0, in Lyon.
Goals from Marcela Restrepo and Leicy Santos secured the win that provisionally moved the Colombians level on points with France in Group A.
WATCH l FIFA deducts six points from Canadian women's Olympic soccer team:
World Cup quarterfinalist Colombia took an early lead through Restrepo in the 27th and Santos sealed the win in the 72nd.
Despite back-to-back losses New Zealand is still above last-place Canada, which was handed a six-point deduction after the drone spying scandal.
United States 4, Germany 1
Sophia Smith scored a pair of goals to help the United States beat Germany 4-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.
Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams also scored for the Americans, who defeated Zambia 3-0 in the opener.
The Americans are playing their first major tournament under new coach Emma Hayes, who took over the U.S. team in late May.
Hayes is tasked with leading the Americans as they seek to distance themselves from the disappointment of last summer's Women's World Cup, when they crashed out in the round of 16.
The United States plays Australia in Marseille to conclude group play. Germany, which defeated Australia in its Olympic opener 3-0, plays Zambia in Saint-Etienne.
Australia 6, Zambia 5
Australia produced a stunning comeback to beat Zambia 6-5 in Nice and boost its chances of advancing to the quarterfinals the tournament.
Michelle Heyman's goal in the 90th minute at Stade de Nice settled a thrilling match that Zambia led 5-2 early in the second half, with Barbra Banda scoring a first-half hat trick.
"We would not have wanted it to go exactly how it did, but I think the way that the game ended says so much for the hardened spirit of this team," said Australia's Steph Catley, who scored twice. "We knew we could get back into it, we knew we could score more goals."
Zambia had been involved in the highest scoring game in the history of women's soccer at the Olympics — beaten 10-3 by the Netherlands at the Tokyo Games three years ago, with Banda scoring a hat trick in that match too.
An own goal by Ngambo Musole sparked Australia's fightback in the 58th.
Two more goals from Catley — a free kick in the 65th and a penalty in the 78th — evened the score and set up the dramatic finale.
Japan 2, Brazil 1
Momoko Tanikawa scored a long-range goal deep in stoppage time to clinch Japan's 2-1 comeback win over Brazil.
The spectacular goal followed Saki Kumagai's equalizer from the penalty spot after Yasmin was called for a handball at the end of regulation at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Brazil was leading 1-0 after Jheniffer's goal in the 56th minute until Japan's late goals, capped with Tanikawa's strike from well outside the top of the box that caught Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena out of position.
Brazil's Marta put her head in her hands in disbelief on the bench. A victory would have all but assured Brazil a spot in the knockout round.
Brazil started Marta, the team's longtime captain who is playing in her sixth Olympics.
A record six-time world player of the year, Marta has said this will be her last major tournament with Brazil. Every time that the 38-year-old got a touch on the ball Sunday night the Paris crowd cheered.
Japan lost its opening match 2-1 to Women's World Cup winner Spain.
Spain 1, Nigeria 0
World champion Spain beat Nigeria 1-0 to make it two wins from two in Group C.
Alexia Putellas scored in the 85th at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes to leave Spain three points clear at the top of the group, ahead of Japan and Brazil.
The game was goalless going in to the final stages when Putellas curled a long free kick past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into the top corner.