Julia Grosso’s Penalty Kick Gives Canada its First Gold Medal in Women’s Soccer originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Julia Grosso scored Canada’s first ever golden goal.
After 120 minutes of soccer that ended in a 1-1 draw, and after five rounds of penalty kicks still weren’t enough to determine a gold medal winner, Grosso approached the ball with a chance to make history.
The 20-year-old fired into the back of the net for the winning penalty kick in a 3-2 shootout win over Sweden to give Canada its first gold medal in women’s soccer on Friday at the Tokyo Olympics.
After Caroline Seger fired over the crossbar in the fifth round on a penalty kick that could have won Sweden its first gold medal, Canada’s Deanne Rose scored to even the shootout at 2-2.
Canada goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe then made her second diving stop of the shootout, setting the stage for Grosso’s gold-medal winning goal.
Canada and Sweden Head to Penalty Kicks in Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Match
Penalty kicks are needed to determine gold.
Canada and Sweden, after 120 minutes of soccer, remain tied at 1-1. That means the two teams will head to penalty kicks to determine the winner of the women’s soccer gold medal.
Sweden was unable to convert during a wild scramble in front of the Canada net in the 117th minute, ending the final threat of extra time.
Sweden’s Lina Hurtig nearly scored the potential winner in the 110th minute but her header off a corner kick carried just wide of the far post. Canada’s Jordyn Huitema in the 112th minute also placed a header wide.
Canada and Sweden in Extra Time to Determine Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Winner
Ninety minutes of soccer wasn’t enough to determine the women’s soccer gold medal winner.
Canada and Sweden finished regulation tied 1-1 and are headed to extra time. It’s the first time the women’s soccer gold medal match has gone to extra time since 2008.
Each team is seeking its first gold medal
Canada Pulls Even with Sweden in Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Match
The gold medal match between Sweden and Canada is all tied up.
A penalty kick was awarded to Canada in the 66th minute after a foul in the box by Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt.
Taking the kick was Jessie Fleming, who converted a penalty kick in the 74th minute of a 1-0 win in the semifinals against the United States. Fleming went the opposite direction on the penalty kick against Sweden, firing to the keeper’s right and into the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
Sweden Leads Canada 1-0 in Olympic Gold Medal Match
A new women’s Olympic soccer champion will be crowned on Friday morning as Canada and Sweden meet in the gold medal match.
Sweden currently leads Canada 1-0 at the half following a goal from Stina Blackstenius at the 33-minute mark of the first half.
The match was originally set to take place at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday (11 a.m. on Friday local time) but it was rescheduled after both teams expressed concerns about playing amid the extreme daytime heat.
The site of the final was also moved from the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo to the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohoma. The Olympic Stadium will be hosting track and field events at the same time as the soccer final.
Now Canada and Sweden are playing under the lights as each team competes for its first-ever Olympic gold medal.
Sweden is undefeated in the tournament at 5-0. Fridolina Rolfo’s goal in the 46th minute was all Sweden needed in the semifinals, edging out Australia 1-0.
Canada, which went 1-0-2 in group play, is also coming off a 1-0 semifinal win. Jessie Fleming scored on a penalty kick in the 75th minute to beat the United States and push Canada through to the final.
Winners of the previous two bronze medals, Canada has already secured its best-ever finish in the tournament.
The United States earned the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games after beating Australia 4-3 on Thursday.
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