TOKYO, Japan – The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team won their first ever Olympic Gold Medal after defeating Sweden 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the Final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Friday night at Kashima Stadium in Kashima, Japan.
Just like in the entire tournament, Canada GK Stephanie Labbe came through in a big spot for her country with two saves during the penalty shootout, including on the final Sweden attempt, allowing Julia Grosso to then stroke home the Gold Medal-winning spot kick.
Labbe was at her best from the opening whistle, starting with a save in the 29’ to deny Sweden’s Sofia Jakobsson for the game’s opening goal.
But five minutes later in the 34’ Sweden would find the breakthrough and a 1-0 lead. Kosovare Asllani did very well to detach herself from a pair of Canadian defenders and send a cross that connected with the swinging right boot of Stina Blackstenius for a 1-0 Sweden lead.
Canada went right to work to find the equalizer and midway through the second half, a foul on legendary forward Christine Sinclair in the Sweden area resulted in a penalty kick.
With all the poise in the world, Jessie Fleming fired in past Sweden GK Hedvig Lindahl from the spot in the 67’ to bring Canada level 1-1.
It made for a very tense final 25 minutes, with Sweden coming closest to a winning goal when Fridolina Rolfo missed by inches in the 79’.
A 1-1 draw after 90 minutes resulted in extra time, but neither side was able to find a Gold Medal-winning goal in the extra frame, meaning things had to be settled from the penalty spot.
In the shootout, Sweden had a chance to win it, but Caroline Seger missed over the crossbar, setting the stage for Labbe’s crucial save and Grosso’s decisive strike
