Sinclair tried her luck with a free-kick from a long way out and sent a wonderful effort bouncing off the crossbar, with goalkeeper Barbara surely beaten.
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The Canadian women’s soccer team returns to Sao Paulo to prepare for Friday’s Olympic bronze-medal match with host Brazil.
Canada has a new Olympic hero in women’s soccer, and her name is Deanne Rose.
The move paid dividends in the 25th minute after a lung-busting run down the left flank by fullback Ashley Lawrence ripped open the Brazilian defence. A star on the Kitchener Spirit, an elite team of the region’s best young players, she scored 24 times for the squad in 2006 – more goals than any other player in the entire Ontario Youth Soccer League.
Canada got goals from longtime captain Christine Sinclair and teenager Deanne Rose to give the Canadians a 2-0 lead before Beatriz Zaneratto Joao replied for the host nation. The striker was the beneficiary of some great play along the right flank by a pair of youngsters, as Fleming used some fancy footwork to get past two defenders before hitting a through ball for Rose to cross into Sinclair for the finish. She took a touch off an Erika header, then in one motion, did a 180-degree turn and finished at the far post from 10 yards.
Sinclair scored in her 250th global match and Canada returned to the Olympic podium with a 2-1 victory over host Brazil for the women’s soccer bronze medal.
Sweden and Germany will contest the final of the tournament later on Friday. They placed fourth in 1996 and 2000. In their history, Brazil has won seven times, Canada has won six times, and the teams have drawn six times.
Canada are also known as a defending team, however they have lacked consistency.
The game was banned for women in Brazil until 1979, and Grainey said “the perception continues that it’s not appropriate for women”. The home-team had yielded just one goal in their previous five matches in the Olympic tournament.
The bronze will certainly be a career highlight for Zadorsky, a former University of MI standout who now plays professionally for the Washington Spirit.
Canada had a ideal run prior to the semifinals: beating Germany, No. 5 Australia and No. 93 Zimbabwe in the preliminary round before downing No. 3 France in the quarter-finals.
Canada is No. 10 in the current Federation Internationale de Football Association world rankings, two spots behind Brazil.
Going into the match, Canada’s record against Brazil was 6-7-6.
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The referee was Romania’s Teodora Albon.
