Canada played what is probably the best game of football ever seen at the Olympic Games, men or women. That the Canadian team lost in the dying seconds of overtime may be put down to a referee who wanted to leave her stamp on the game, making dubious interpretations and  getting many things wrong. One can only hope that the videotape of the match is shown to future referee appointees to help avoid such travesties.

By Chris Bascombe, Telegraph

There was more football heartbreak for a British coach at the Olympic Games, but this time it was draped in a Canadian flag. Canada coach John Herdman, born in County Durham, suffered a cruel semi-final defeat to the United States in a breathless encounter which proved for pure entertainment the women are more than capable of eclipsing the men.

 Spare a thought for Canadian skipper Christine Sinclair. She struck a
hat-trick worthy of a commemorative plaque on the walls of Old Trafford, only to be denied in extra-time by Alex Morgan's 123rd-minute header. The US had earlier equalized three times. This stadium has played host to many robust derbies, but the meeting of North American rivals brings a flavour of its own; a peculiarly satisfying
simmering resentment that produced an exhilarating football match.
 
The shame was only 26, 630 were here. What the stadium lacked in numbers it compensated for in volume, passion and quality. World- class goals, fifty-fifty tackles aplenty and not a shirker in sight; this was comfortably the game of both football tournaments.

Canada demonstrated their intent in this Olympic semi-final with two
clattering challenges within sixty seconds. Herdman accused USA of being too physical before kick-off, but it seemed the Canadians were set solely on overpowering their opponent. Not so. They wanted to outplay them too. Sinclair dropped the shoulder and worked the delicately placed pass of Melissa Tancredi onto her right foot for a
22nd minute lead. It was an exquisitely worked goal, prompting the latest in a series of flag waving exercises in the stands. The screeching choruses of USA and Canada ensured the Stretford End momentarily resembled the noise levels in the East End of Stratford.

If the first half was full of promise, the second was scintillating, including four goals in eleven minutes. Meetings here between United and City do not display more intensity and emotion. The first USA equaliser, on 54 minutes, was freakish, direct from a corner by dashing blonde winger Megan Rapinoe. The momentum shift lasted 13 minutes
when Sinclair bulleted past USA keeper Hope Solo, but Rapinoe responded instantly with an even better strike from 20 yards.

 Sinclair struck back, heading her third from a corner on 73 minutes, only for Canada defender Marie Eve Nault to be harshly adjudged to have handled with full-time approaching. Wambach struck a third US equaliser from the penalty spot before Morgan had the late, last word.

 Match details
Canada (4-3-2-1): McLeod; Moscato, Wilkinson, Nault (Stewart 101), Sesselman;  Matheson, Schmidt, Scott; Sinclair, Tancredi, Filgno (Kyle 67). Subs: LeBlanc; Chapman, Parker, Timko, Booth.

United States (4-3-3): Solo; Rampone, O'Hara, Peilbet (Leroux 67), Buehler (Sauerbrunn 109); Lloyd, Rapinoe, Heath; Chenay (O'Reilly 101), Morgan, Wambach. Subs: Mitts, Boxx, Rodriguez, Barnhart.

Referee: C Pedersen (Norway).