Olympic dream ended for women’s soccer team
Fall 2-1 to U.S. in quarterfinal
August 15, 2008
SHANGHAI -- The Olympic dream has ended for Ajax’s Candace Chapman and Canada’s women’s soccer program.
Though they managed to battle the No. 1-ranked United States team into extra time, a Natasha Kai header in the 101st minute stood as the winner in a 2-1 U.S. quarterfinal victory, which eliminated the Canadians from medal contention Friday night in Shanghai (Friday morning in Canada).
The U.S. opened the scoring in the 12th minute on an Angela Hucles goal, and held that lead into the 30th minute before Christine Sinclair tallied Canada’s only marker of the match.
Soon after the Hucles goal, the Canadians lost starting goaltender Erin McLeod, who was forced out in the 19th minute due to injury.
Karina LeBlanc came in to replace her and held the fort until Kai’s extra time marker.
The No. 9-ranked Canadians knew they would be in tough heading into the contest, but were of the opinion they had a good chance to knock off the powerhouse Americans.
“We’ve been head to head with them so many times, especially recently,” Oakville’s Kara Lang told Metroland sports editor Brad Kelly, who is in Beijing covering the Games. “We are in the mindset now of it’s our turn (to win).”
But it wasn’t to be for the Canadians, who in addition to Chapman and Lang, also sported GTA residents Jonelle Filigno and Robyn Gayle of Mississauga and Daina Matheson of Oakville.
The U.S. controlled almost every facet of the game, firing 34 shots towards the Canadian goal, with 17 right on the mark, while the Canadians could only muster eight kicks towards the net and seven on. Ball possession percentages indicated a closer contest as the U.S. held the edge in that category 58 to 42.
"We were good at times, but during the second half and overtime, we couldn't pass and move the ball as well as we had earlier," said head coach Even Pellerud. "It was a decent result but there is no doubt that USA created more goal chances. There is no doubt in my mind that the better team won tonight."
A crowd of 26,129 took in the game at Shanghai Stadium.