Olympics Recap: Quinn and Canada Win Gold for First Time
OL Reign midfielder Quinn and Canada upset Sweden to bring home their first ever gold medal from the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Quinn played in every match for Canada, contributing to their solid midfield and has become the first openly transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal.
Sweden vs. Canada
In the gold medal match, OL Reign midfielder Quinn earned a start with Canada. Sweden was the favorite to win this match, but that did not matter to the Canadian side. As expected, Sweden was the team to start on the front foot in the match, attacking the Canadian back line at every possible opportunity. In contrast, Canada was content to absorb pressure and take advantage of the counterattack chances throughout the first half.
In the 34th minute, Sweden got on the board first when Kosovare Asllani served a ball to Stina Blackstenius, who found the back of the net with her right footed shot. Sweden attempted to find another goal to edge Canada out of the game before halftime, but they were unable to do so.
Quinn was subbed out at halftime after a strong performance in the midfield. Canada shifted slightly at the half, pushing Christine Sinclair higher up the field and taking more risks to put pressure on Sweden. Canada began to dictate the tempo of the game, still searching for an equalizer.
Canada finally found a breakthrough moment when Christine Sinclair was fouled in the box. The play went to video review, resulting in a Canada penalty kick. Jessie Fleming stepped up to the take the kick, just as she did against the United States in the semifinal match. Cool, calm and collected, she took a powerful shot to the lower left corner to beat Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl in the 67th minute.
Both sides fought for a second goal, Sweden nearly found that golden opportunity in the 89th minute, but Canada’s Kadeisha Buchanan was there to make a goal line clearance to preserve the 1-1 score line through regulation and send the game to extra time. This is the first women’s soccer gold medal match to go to extra time since 2008.
Both teams battled tired legs throughout the two 15-minute periods of extra time, looking for the winning goal but there was no breakthrough. Canada weathered attack after attack from Sweden but held strong to force the game to a penalty kicks.
The penalty kick shootout was anything but ordinary, with Asllani hitting the post for Sweden on the very first kick. Fleming kicked next and converted her shot to the lower left corner for Canada. Nathalie Bjorn stepped up and scored Sweden’s next kick to level the score. Ashley Lawrence was up next for Canada, but her shot in the center of the goal was saved.
Sweden converted their next kick, taking the 2-1 lead in the shootout. In dramatic succession, Canada hit the crossbar, then Sweden’s next kick is saved. Still attempting to level the score, Canada saw another shot saved. With a chance to win it, Caroline Seger stepped up to the spot to take her kick but put the ball well over the goal.
To keep Canada in the game, Deanne Rose converted her shot to the upper right corner of the goal. Stephanie Labbé, who had been trying to get into the heads of Sweden players throughout the entire shootout, came up huge, saving Sweden’s next penalty kick.
To win the game for Canada, Julia Grosso stepped up to the spot and took left footed shot the lower left corner of the goal. Though Swedish goalkeeper went the right way, the shot had enough power on it to find the back of the next and secure Canada’s first ever gold medal.