Last update on. From the section OlympicsTo win the Tokyo 2020 women's soccer gold, Canada defeated Sweden by penaltiesThis is the Canucks' first Olympic gold medal in the competition, having previously won bronze medals in Rio and London.After Canada's Jessie Fleming equalised from penalty spot to overrule Stina Blackstenius' opening, the game was extended.Canada won the shootout 3-2 thanks to Julia Grosso, a midfielder.In a game with few chances, Sweden's Blackstenius scored the opening goal in the 34th minute. She beat goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe by scoring a low, first-time strike off Kosovare Andllani's cross.Fleming won the penalty spot, after Christine Sinclair, a veteran forward was fouled by Amanda Ilestedt.Canada appealed to Anastasia Pustovoytova, but she pointed out the spot after the Russian video assistant referee revealed that the Canadian had been kicked from behind when the pair tried to get a loose ball in the box.Both sides were nervous when they stood up to shootout. Seven of the twelve penalties were either saved or missed.Nathalie Bjorn, Olivia Schough and Deanne Rose scored spots for Sweden. Grosso won the spot for Canada.After their Rio 2016 defeat to Germany, Sweden has won silver in the Olympic women's soccer finals.Quinn, a Canada midfielder, is the first transgender athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal. Canada and Quinn won bronze at Rio 2016, before Quinn was announced in September 2020.Canada's victory is Bev Priestman's first major title. She was born in County Durham, and coached England's under-17 team before becoming Phil Neville’s assistant coach for the senior team.After previous stints as a coach for Canada's youth teams, she was named head coach.The USA won the bronze medal against Australia on Thursday in a seven-goal thriller.
