Kashima, Japan – With a Jessie Feming penalty goal in the 74th minute, Canada eliminated the United States from the fight for gold in the women’s Olympic soccer tournament on Monday and advanced to the final after winning 1-0.
Canada’s rival for Friday’s final at the Olympic Stadium will come out of the match between Sweden and Australia later in the day in Yokohama.
This is the second time that the Americans – reigning world champions – have been out of the fight for gold at a Games. In 2016 they lost to Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Canada had not beaten the United States since 2001.
The Americans, who were aiming for their fifth gold medal, reached the semifinals after beating the Netherlands 4-2 on a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. But their performance in the group stage had been spotty: They started with a 3-0 loss to Sweden that cut an unbeaten 44-game match and drew scoreless with Australia.
After a goalless first half, Fleming opened the scoring for Canada from 11 meters against substitute United States goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
Starter Alyssa Naeher was injured when she fell badly when she tried to control an elevated ball inside her box in the 20th minute. She was treated by the doctors for about five minutes while Franch warmed up and although she tried to stay in the game, she was finally replaced after half an hour.
Naeher was key in the victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals by saving a penalty in regulation time and another two in the shoot-out from 11 steps.
