Canada became the Olympic champion in the women’s football tournament in Tokyo 2020. The team beat Sweden after penalties after the result was 1:1 in regular time and overtime. In the execution of the penalties, the “maple leaves” prevailed with 3:2 and thus with a total score of 4:3 won the gold medals. Sweden must be satisfied with the silver, and bronze is for the USA.
The Swedes had the advantage and created more goal situations, but failed to reach victory. Their only goal was scored by Stina Blackstenius in the 34th minute when she passed the ball between the legs of Vanessa Gilles. In the 68th minute, however, Jessie Fleming equalized from a penalty played for a foul by Amanda Ilestedt against Christine Sinclair. In the remaining minutes of regular time and subsequently, in overtime, a new goal did not fall and so penalties determined the final winner.
The Scandinavians missed their first penalty after a shot by Kosovare Asllani in the sidebar. Jessie Fleming was again accurate from the white spot for the Canadians, but the omissions of Ashley Lawrence (saving the goalkeeper) and Vanessa Gilles (a crossbar) gave Sweden an advance after the goals of NNathalie Bjorn and Olivia Schough. Two saved shots of both teams followed – Anna Anvegard for Sweden and Adriana Leon for Canada. This gave a chance to captain Caroline Seger to bring the gold to Sweden, but her jester went over the goal. Thus, Deanne Rose’s accurate shot restored the draw. Jonna Andersson made the fourth pass for the “yellows”, and Julia Angela Grosso scored the decisive goal for the victory of Canada, which again won penalties after those in the quarterfinals against Brazil.
Thus, the North Americans won for the first time with the gold medals from the Olympic Games after 4 victories (2 with penalties) and 2 draws in the tournament. In the second consecutive Olympics, the Swedes took the silver medals after their only loss in Tokyo 2020.