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RHIAN SOCCER REPORTS AND MEDIA

 

CANADA'S SEMI FINALS HEARTACHE  7th August 2012  Based on Canadian Press, CanadaSoccer.com, National Post,  & Globe and Mail

 

It was simply one of the best matches in the annals of Olympic football.

 

 

Canada turned in one of the most courageous performances in its history, three times taking the lead against rival USA in the 6 August semi-final at London 2012. Ultimately, Canada was defeated in the last minute of extra time and is now scheduled to face France in the bronze-medal match of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

"These women have come to see the flag raised," said Canadian head coach John Herdman. "That's the job. They came here for that and the job is not finished. They'll be disappointed tonight because it won't be gold or silver, but we'll take a medal from this tournament."

 

Captain Christine Sinclair scored a monumental hat-trick to give Canada the lead on three seperate occasions, but all three times, the Americans battled back to force the match to extra time. The mainly neutral crowd at Old Trafford in Manchester, were gripped by a remarkably fascinating contest, but unfortunately for Herdman's Canadian side - it was a match that slipped away cruelly in the final 30 seconds of a marathon battle.

 

Canada's women's soccer team left everything on the venerable Old Trafford soccer pitch and delivered one of the most inspiring — and heartbreaking — moments in the recent history of Canadian Olympic team sports. In what is sure to be an instant football classic, Canada suffered an absolutely heartbreaking 3:4 defeat in extra time in the semi-final phase at the London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament. 

 

Against the run of play, Sinclair got things started in the 22nd minute. Marie-Eve Nault chipped a ball through to Melissa Tancredi who then passed to Sinclair who smartly cut across the 18-yard box before unleashing a right-footed shot that beat USA goalkeeper Hope Solo. The USA came out with something to prove in the second half and Rapinoe scored in the 54th minute. She swung in a corner kick to the near-post. With Canada slow to react, the ball snuck in before Lauren Sesselmann or Erin McLeod could keep it out.

 

Four goals were then scored in just over 10 minutes. First Melissa Tancredi assisted on Sinclair’s second of the game in the 68th minute before Rapinoe added her second just two minutes later with a stunner from the right side that ricocheted off the far post and in. Two minutes later, it was Sinclair again who headed home a corner kick from the right side to the far post. It was Sinclair's first-ever hat trick against the Americans.

 

With just over ten minutes remaining, the Americans were awarded an indirect free kick inside the Canadian penalty area by Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen for goalkeeper Erin McLeod holding the ball more that six seconds. Then, Marie-Eve Nault was charged with a handball in the penalty area on the ensuing kick. Canadian coach John Herdman was livid with Pedersen. "She'll have to sleep in bed tonight after watching the replays, she's got that to live with," he said "We'll move on from this, I wonder if she'll be able to."

 

McLeod said Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen told her that she had held the ball for 10 seconds. "Not even close," McLeod replied. Sinclair pleaded with Pedersen to reconsider. "She actually giggled and said nothing," Sinclair said. "Classy." Sinclair felt the Canadians were robbed of a victory.

 

"Obviously, we're disappointed and upset. We felt that the referee took it away from us, so, yes, we are disappointed. We feel like we didn't lose, we feel like it was taken from us. It's a shame in a game like that, which is so important, that the ref decided the result before the game started."

 

In fact, every one of the Canadians was seething. "I just don't think any of us could believe what happened, that's why we didn't leave [the field] probably," said Melissa Tancredi, her lip quivering as she tried to fight off the tears. "I just didn't want to leave because I just couldn't believe that's what happened. That was our game, that was our win to have. And it was just taken away."

 

John Herdman said that the team "are devastated right now; you've got to give them that time to mourn this ... but there's no dishonour in how they played. They gave everything, that level of connectivity will put them through."

 

In the aftermath of what some are already calling the best soccer game in a generation, it's a shame that Canada's 4-3 extra time loss, to the heavily favoured Americans, will largely be remembered forwhat an inept referee did.

 

 

Canada fielded a starting XI with Erin McLeod in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, Carmelina Moscato and Lauren Sesselmann at centre back and Marie-Eve Nault at left back. Desiree Scott, Sophie Schmidt, Diana Matheson, Christine Sinclair Melissa Tancredi and Jonelle Filigno made up the midfield and attack. In the second half, Canadian coach John Herdman replaced Filigno with Kaylyn Kyle (67’). In extra time, Nault was replaced by Chelsea Stewart (101’).

 

USA had a starting XI with Hope Solo in goal and Christie Rampone, Kelley O’Hara, Amy Le Peilbet and Rachel Buehler on the back line. Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach made up the midfield and attack. In the second half, USA head coach Pia Sundhage replaced Le Peilbet with Sydney LeRoux (76’). In extra time, Cheney was replaced by Heather O’Reilly (101’) and Buehler with Becky Sauerbrunn (110’).

 

Twitter abuzz before, after game

  • Canadian chef de mission Mark Tewksbury: "stuck in a car coming back from canoe-kayak awesome visit. Following game on twitter. KILLING ME!!!"

  • CBC host Jian Ghomeshi: "Ref in this game is doing things by the book. Assuming it's a book that has nothing to do with soccer or this game. .canadavsusa .London2012."

  • Canadian kayaker Adam van Koeverden: "Congrats to .CANwnt soccer. Valiant effort, incredible talent, total class."

  • Canadian women's hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser: "If I had to go to war, I'd go to war with our soccer gals anyday! Proud to be cdn! Go get bronze!"

  • CBC host Gerry Dee: "Wayne Gretzky is the Christine Sinclair of hockey.

  • Movie star Samuel L. Jackson: "Lemme say though, those Canuck Ladies brought da noise! They came to WIN! Ehhh?!!"

  • NBA star Steve Nash: "MAJOR respect to the Canadian woman's soccer team! Didn't deserve to lose. Played some beautiful stuff and fought like crazy. Heads up."

  • Canadian men's national player Iain Hume: "Not gonna lie, I'm absolutely gutted! What a match that was 2 watch but sickening just the same! The #CanWNT did every Canuck proud there!"

 ADDITIONAL MATCH NOTES:

 

With three goals in the match, Sinclair has a national record 23 goals on the season. She also has scored six goals in this year's London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament, one more than Abby Wambach who has scored five goals.

Of note in the match, Rhian Wilkinson made her 130th international appearance, moving past Charmaine Hooper for fourth on the all-time list (behind Andrea Neil 132, Diana Matheson 140 and Christine Sinclair 189). Sophie Schmidt, meanwhile, made her 45th consecutive appearance to tie Matheson for the second longest streak in program history (behind Randee Hermus' streak of 46 matches).