Canada beat Germany 2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the women’s football on Tuesday and the Germans go through with them while Australia wait to see if they will make it as one of the best third-placed sides.
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Germany edged out Australia for second place by just one goal on goal difference after the Matildas smashed Zimbabwe 6-1.
The 10th-ranked Canadian women will play the runner-up in Group G in Friday’s quarter-final in Sao Paulo.
With his team playing its third game in seven days, Herdman made six changes to his starting lineup with captain Christine Sinclair and Diana Matheson both rested.
Tancredi padded Canada’s lead in the 60th minute, scoring on a header off a free kick whipped deep into the box by Rebecca Quinn.
The Germans pressed for an equalizer, but stout defending and steady goalkeeping from Stephanie Labbe preserved the win for the Reds.
Germany made five changes to its lineup.
The Germans controlled most of the match in the opening minutes and got on the board first in the 13th minute thanks to a penalty kick by midfielder Melanie Behringer.
Tancredi tied things up for Canada against the run of play in the 25th minute, firing a low shot past across the box and underneath the goalkeeper after she won the ball and skipped past to German players. But Behringer’s delivery was just high.
Plus, in 12 matches against the Germans, Canada has yet to earn a single point, so don’t expect the Canadian side to tip their hand in terms of strategy either.
Lawrence replaced Jessie Fleming at halftime.
In Matchday 3 action from Group F, Canada beat Germany 2-1 at Estadio Nacional in Brasilia on Tuesday afternoon. It was her 27th goal for Canada and seventh at the Olympics.
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Following the goal, realizing that Australia was routing Zimbabwe in the other group match and that the Aussies could potentially surpass them on goal differential, the Germans stepped on the gas.
