MARSEILLE (AFP) – Scandal-hit Canada kept alive their hopes of reaching the Olympic women’s football quarter-finals with a last-gasp 2-1 win over France on Sunday as the United States joined Spain in the last eight.
Reigning champions Canada came into the match against the hosts with their hopes hanging by a thread after they were docked six points over a spying scandal.
A drone was used over a New Zealand training session ahead of Canada’s first match, which they went on to win 2-1.
Coach Bev Priestman has been suspended for a year by FIFA.
France took the lead through Marie-Antoinette Katoto just before half-time only for Jessie Fleming to equalise after the break in Saint-Etienne.
Canada were staring at the Olympic exit door until Vanessa Gilles struck in the 12th minute of injury time.
The result, coupled with Colombia’s 2-0 win over New Zealand, means all four teams in Group A can still progress.
In Group B, Sophia Smith scored twice as the United States thumped Germany 4-1 to stay on track for a record-extending fifth gold medal.
Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams were also on the scoresheet.
The opener came in the 10th minute on a sweltering evening in Marseille as Trinity Rodman played a one-two on the right before delivering a low cross that was turned in by Smith.
Giulia Gwinn’s fine low strike brought Germany level midway through the first half, but the USA were quickly back in front as Swanson netted after a Smith shot was parried.
Smith got her second and the USA’s third a minute before the interval with a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection to loop up over the goalkeeper and in off a post.
Swanson set up substitute Williams to seal the win and the United States top the group with six points.
In the same group Australia produced an incredible comeback to overturn a three-goal deficit and beat Zambia 6-5 in Nice.
The Matildas were heading for a second straight loss when they trailed Zambia 5-2 early in the second half, but they came roaring back to win thanks to Michelle Heyman’s 90th-minute strike.
Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the first minute for Zambia and went on to net a hat-trick, with Racheal Kundananji scoring twice.
When Kundananji headed in for 5-2 in the 56th minute, the match appeared to be over but defensive gifts by Zambia handed last year’s World Cup semi-finalists a way back in.
Lushomo Mweemba played a clearance off goalkeeper Ngambo Musole and into the net for an own goal, and the goalkeeper then fumbled in Steph Catley’s free-kick for 5-4.
Catley converted a penalty for 5-5 and Heyman ran through for the winner in the 90th minute.
Spain beat Nigeria 1-0 in Group C, with Alexia Putellas scoring a late free-kick, guaranteeing the world champions a quarter-final berth.
Earlier in the same group, Momoko Tanikawa scored a stunning 96th-minute winner as Japan came from behind to beat Brazil 2-1 in Paris.
Japan were staring at a second straight defeat after Jhennifer put Brazil ahead early in the second half.
But captain Saki Kumagai rolled in a 92nd-minute penalty before 19-year-old substitute Tanikawa’s incredible first-time shot from distance.
