Canadian women's national team last win over the Americans was in March, 2011, a 3-0 at the Algarve Cup. Now, they start to dream again: Christine Sinclair scores at 22 minutes, after a play started by Nault and a quick pass in the area by Tancredi. Sinclair fainted two players and shot with the right foot to defeat Hope Solo for the 1-0 partial.
Good Lord, she's up. She refuses the stretcher. She's limping off. If you don't love Desiree Scott, then you hate life.
Herdman asks her if she can go on.
You have to see that replay. I thought she was headed to the hospital.
But now Desiree Scott is jogging back on.
114 mins - Now Scott is down at the halfway line.
She went knee to knee on a 50/50 ball with O'Reilly. A lot of "Oooohs" through the press box as that replay is shown. Scott's knee was bent right back.
I get the awful feeling that Desiree Scott's Olympics are over.
114 mins - US continues to launch balls in to the area. They've obviously read the scouting report on McLeod. But she's been money tonight.
Schmidt shakes it off. She's back.
111 mins - Another US corner. Rapinoe can't calibrate her missile launcher properly and it's put out by the Canadians.
Now Schmidt is down. Wambach spiked her on that last play, though not on purpose. She caught it right across the top of the foot. She's in real pain.
109 mins - McLeod out smartly to punch it away. Moscato is down after that, clutching her shoulder. She gets up and says something ... well, it probably doesn't bear repeating.
109 mins - As I say that, Wilkinson tries to play a ball back and instead knocks it out for a US corner.
EXTRA TIME
93 mins - Last chance ball hoofed up to Matheson. She's pancaked. There will be no fouls given now.
US corner with ten seconds left.92 mins - Both teams exhausted. US keeps lobbing it up. Canada keeps lobbing it back.
US corner with ten seconds left.92 mins - Both teams exhausted. US keeps lobbing it up. Canada keeps lobbing it back.
91 mins - USA chants in full throat now.
Morgan takes it on the flank, throws it at goal. It hits the side netting
Morgan takes it on the flank, throws it at goal. It hits the side netting
3 minutes of extra time.
But Schmidt heads it away and we're still just angry at the ref for the McLeod thing.
90 mins - Huge Canadian anger as US wins a corner on a ball that the American clearly took out of bounds herself.
SO CLOSE! Schmidt wins a one-on-one with Buehler and ends up in on Solo by herself. But the angle is extremely tight and Solo saves a point blank shot.
The ensuing corner comes to naught.
The ensuing corner comes to naught.
87 mins - Another great ball in from Morgan, but McLeod sees it first and swipes it.
Schmidt cuts out O'Hara. Another US free kick. Set plays are killing Canada here.WAMBACH COULD HAVE PUT THE GAME AWAY THERE.
86 mins - Tancredi and Rapinoe exchange pleasantries.
Schmidt cuts out O'Hara. Another US free kick. Set plays are killing Canada here.WAMBACH COULD HAVE PUT THE GAME AWAY THERE.
She and Morgan work their way on a break against two defenders. Morgan's cross was there, but a sprawling Wambach can't make good contact
Schmidt cuts out O'Hara. Another US free kick. Set plays are killing Canada here.WAMBACH COULD HAVE PUT THE GAME AWAY THERE.
She and Morgan work their way on a break against two defenders. Morgan's cross was there, but a sprawling Wambach can't make good contact
It's 3-3. Canada have taken three leads in this game - all of them scored by Christine Sinclair. The U.S. has come back each time.
More replays of the Nault handball. Show us more replays of the McLeod kick. That's the one that looked questionable. There was no doubt about Nault.
82 mins - Canada really testing their luck now. Kyle two-footedly sweeps Morgan down in the area. No call. That could have so easily been a call.
If Canada goes down, this is going to hurt so bad.
McLeod made an elementary error, straying out of her area as she went to launch a ball up the field. I can't say if she was out for sure after only one iffy replay, but she shouldn't have been wandering so close.
Then on the ensuing free kick, Nault came running in with her arm held protectively in front of her face. Two small, killing errors.
US PENALTY!! HANDBALL ON NAULT!!
McLeod made an elementary error, straying out of her area as she went to launch a ball up the field. I can't say if she was out for sure after only one iffy replay, but she shouldn't have been wandering so close.
Then on the ensuing free kick, Nault came running in with her arm held protectively in front of her face. Two small, killing errors.
IT"S 3-3. WAMBACH PUTS IT IN THE CORNER. THERE ARE 10 MINUTES - AND POSSIBLY MORE - IN THE CRAZIEST GAME IN THIS COMPETITION.
77 mins - That looked terrifying for a minute, but McLeod takes it out of the air while falling backward.
Now the ref has penalized McLeod for dropping the ball outside the area when she took the goal kick?! US free kick from basically the penalty spot. Gut check.76 mins - le Peilbet sprints off the pitch as Brett Lawrie's former fiancee, Sydney LeRoux, is subbed in. USA playing with huge urgency here. They have a corner.
Now the ref has penalized McLeod for dropping the ball outside the area when she took the goal kick?! US free kick from basically the penalty spot. Gut check.76 mins - le Peilbet sprints off the pitch as Brett Lawrie's former fiancee, Sydney LeRoux, is subbed in. USA playing with huge urgency here. They have a corner.
72 mins - It's a hat trick for Sinclair. Off the corner, she first beats two markers to the ball. She then powers it all the way across the face of goal, where le Peilbet is standing on the post. But it's inch-perfect and the American defender can't rise to it. About as good a headed goal as you will ever see.
SWEET JESUS. IT'S 3-2 CANADA. CHRISTINE SINCLAIR MAY BE PROOF OF HIGHER LIFE FORMS
70 mins - That was a ridiculously skilled goal from Rapinoe. She receives the ball about five yards outside the box, sitting well to one side. Nault doesn't move to challenge her. Rapinoe winds up and launches one. It hits the far post and caroms in. World-class stuff.
So? You enjoying yourself.?68 MINUTES NOT SO FAST. IT'S 2-2. Rapinoe shoots a strong cross and it is American’s second goal
So? You enjoying yourself.?68 MINUTES NOT SO FAST. IT'S 2-2. Rapinoe shoots a strong cross and it is American’s second goal
Our favourite combination again. Tancredi is played through on the left flank. She turns and fires one into the box. Sinclair is there, meets it sharply and knocks it in off the post.
The Americans are irate. They think Tancredi was offside. Didn't look that way to me. I urge you to check back at the veeerrry beginning of this live blog. 68 mins - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! SINCLAIR AGAIN! IT'S 2-1 CANADA.66 mins - Matheson and Scott conspire to keep Morgan from ranging into the Canadian area. But only just.
Sinclair limping a little after getting foot stomped on that play. But she's going to be okay.
Kyle is in for Filigno. Schmidt moves up to join Sinclair and Tancredi.
The Americans are irate. They think Tancredi was offside. Didn't look that way to me. I urge you to check back at the veeerrry beginning of this live blog. 68 mins - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! SINCLAIR AGAIN! IT'S 2-1 CANADA.66 mins - Matheson and Scott conspire to keep Morgan from ranging into the Canadian area. But only just.
Sinclair limping a little after getting foot stomped on that play. But she's going to be okay.
Kyle is in for Filigno. Schmidt moves up to join Sinclair and Tancredi.
65 mins - Looks like Kyle is getting set to enter the game. Canada in bad need of fresh legs.
64 mins - Human Cold Fusion Machine Tobin Heath hip checks Filigno. Canadian freekick. The breather is far more important.
62 mins - Tancredi obliterates U.S. goalscorer Rapinoe. If you ever have to fight a schoolyard bully, you know who to call. Sesselmann a good second choice
73 minutes, another goal by Sinclair, the third, a new heading 3-2
68 MINUTES NOT SO FAST. IT'S 2-2. Rapinoe shoots a strong cross and it is American’s second goal
Our favourite combination again. Tancredi is played through on the left flank. She turns and fires one into the box. Sinclair is there, meets it sharply and knocks it in off the post.
The Americans are irate. They think Tancredi was offside. Didn't look that way to me. I urge you to check back at the veeerrry beginning of this live blog. 68 mins - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! SINCLAIR AGAIN! IT'S 2-1 CANADA.66 mins - Matheson and Scott conspire to keep Morgan from ranging into the Canadian area. But only just.
Sinclair limping a little after getting foot stomped on that play. But she's going to be okay.
Kyle is in for Filigno. Schmidt moves up to join Sinclair and Tancredi.
The Americans are irate. They think Tancredi was offside. Didn't look that way to me. I urge you to check back at the veeerrry beginning of this live blog. 68 mins - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! SINCLAIR AGAIN! IT'S 2-1 CANADA.66 mins - Matheson and Scott conspire to keep Morgan from ranging into the Canadian area. But only just.
Sinclair limping a little after getting foot stomped on that play. But she's going to be okay.
Kyle is in for Filigno. Schmidt moves up to join Sinclair and Tancredi.
65 mins - Looks like Kyle is getting set to enter the game. Canada in bad need of fresh legs.
64 mins - Human Cold Fusion Machine Tobin Heath hip checks Filigno. Canadian freekick. The breather is far more important.
62 mins - Tancredi obliterates U.S. goalscorer Rapinoe. If you ever have to fight a schoolyard bully, you know who to call. Sesselmann a good second choice
62 mins - Some sustained pressure from the Americans now. Canada pinned back.
Sinclair tries to release Filigno, but Solo is off her line smartly. This is beginning to look distressingly like the first 15 minutes of the game
Sinclair tries to release Filigno, but Solo is off her line smartly. This is beginning to look distressingly like the first 15 minutes of the game
It sure looked like Sinclair's cross bounced off Rapinoe's arm in the area. But they won't show us the replay on the stadium feed, so I can't say for sure. Several Canadians certainly thought it was a penalty
Kelly Parker and Brittany Timko also warming up. So, all the usual suspects.
59 mins - Morgan runs past Moscato again on the ball over the top. McLeod hesitates, but finally makes up her mind to come out and take it. Good thing, too.
57 mins - If we're being generous to ourselves we'll say that Canada was a little lucky to have gotten out of that first half with a lead.
Kelly Parker and Brittany Timko also warming up. So, all the usual suspects.
68 mins - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! SINCLAIR AGAIN! IT'S 2-1 CANADA.
66 mins - Matheson and Scott conspire to keep Morgan from ranging into the Canadian area. But only just.
Sinclair limping a little after getting foot stomped on that play. But she's going to be okay.
Kyle is in for Filigno. Schmidt moves up to join Sinclair and Tancredi
59 mins - Morgan runs past Moscato again on the ball over the top. McLeod hesitates, but finally makes up her mind to come out and take it. Good thing, too.
57 mins - If we're being generous to ourselves we'll say that Canada was a little lucky to have gotten out of that first half with a lead.
Now the luck's been evened up. Canada need to keep their heads about them for the next few moments.
Now the luck's been evened up. Canada need to keep their heads about them for the next few moments.
Oh my God, what a hash Canada made of that. From Rapinoe's corner, Sinclair, Sesselmann and McLeod all converge on the near post. American Rachel Buehler is there too, but has little to do with it.
Sinclair runs by a ball that both McLeod and Sesselmann expect her to take. So they're both falling in to the net as the ball ricochets off the pair of them and in. That was ugly.
Sinclair runs by a ball that both McLeod and Sesselmann expect her to take. So they're both falling in to the net as the ball ricochets off the pair of them and in. That was ugly.
Oh my God, what a hash Canada made of that. From Rapinoe's corner, Sinclair, Sesselmann and McLeod all converge on the near post. American Rachel Buehler is there too, but has little to do with it.
Sinclair runs by a ball that both McLeod and Sesselmann expect her to take. So they're both falling in to the net as the ball ricochets off the pair of them and in. That was ugly.
54 mins - US SCORES FROM A CORNER. IT'S 1-1 Rapinoe from corner kick that nobody could shoot away
53 mins - As a display of skill, there isn't much in this. Both teams now kicking it up to their forwards.
Again, it's Morgan, trying to latch on to a ball into the Canadian area. But Sesselmann wrestles her away. Schmidt puts it out. US corner.52 mins - First Sinclair heads it away, then Tancredi hoofs it back up the field. All hands on deck, now.
Again, it's Morgan, trying to latch on to a ball into the Canadian area. But Sesselmann wrestles her away. Schmidt puts it out. US corner.52 mins - First Sinclair heads it away, then Tancredi hoofs it back up the field. All hands on deck, now.
51 mins - Now Sesselman takes Wambach out inches outside the area. That was very, VERY close to a penalty. But no foul called. US corner.
50 mins - Matheson gives it away near the touchline. Morgan collects quickly, knocks it in toward Wambach. She takes it off her chest beautifully, but her shot is twenty feet over the net. Morgan really is some player.
49 mins - Rapinoe knocks it to Cheney at the top of the box, who in turn tries to feed it back to Rapinoe. Three Canadians standing around her as she takes it. If that was a designed play, it was designed with popsicle sticks.
48 mins - Wilkinson and Morgan go down together in a pile on the edge of the canadian area. A foul. U S free kick from a tight angle.47 mins - Oh, right. The game. Tancredi does a good job of running the ball up the middle, gathering a large contingent of American defenders on her back. She's going to have to be huge holding the ball up. Huge.
45 mins End of the first half, USA dominating, but Canada is winning partially 1-0 with a great goal of Christine Sinclair.
44 mins - Tobin Heath doesn't have much skill, but what an engine. She looks like she's taking part in one those sped-up Benny Hill skits.
43 mins - Sesselmann and Moscato converge on Morgan as she goes up to take the ball down. Canada has clearly identified what they feel is the major threat, no matter how many career goals Wambach has.
42 mins - Eventually, this will work for the US - the long ball over the Canadian defence - Wambach got out alone that time, but she was offside
41 mins - Another free kick for Rapinoe from distance. She overcooks it and McLeod makes the easy centre field basket catch
40 mins - le Peilbet muscles Tancredi out of the area so that Solo can come over to take a ball in. This ref is letting them play. And by them, I mean the Americans.
Five minutes to go in half. A terribly crucial time.
39 mins - A nearly endless move ten feet in front of the Canadian goal has hearts (and other, more vital parts) in throats. But Morgan can't find anyone as she spins and launches out into touch.
37 mins - AGAIN. TOO CLOSE. Nault makes a hash of it, and Morgan is alone on the flank. Her cross in finds Wambach. She gets good strong contact but it's wide.
36 mins - US now working long balls forward to Morgan and Wambach. Sesselmann and Moscato have been so strong for this Canadian team. They're having another wonderful game.
35 mins - From a long free kick, Wambach goes over the back of Moscato to get a head on. McLeod down to save. Doesn't matter. Foul called anyway.
The forwards are back helping out, but the formation hasn't changed. No bus parking in front of goal, thank God. That would be disastrous.
32 mins - I must be going insane. It sounds like someone is chanting, "Go Leafs Go."
This work. It scars you
This work. It scars you
31 mins - TOO CLOSE. Rapinoe's long free kick from that foul is totally botched by the Canadian defence. Morgan is all alone at far post. But she's scrambling backward, can't quite put the head on it. It sails wide
29 mins - Suddenly, as the U.S. is forced to tighten in the back, there's space opening up in midfield. Canada looking far more comfortable on the ball.
28 mins - Now Schmidt de-legs Rapinoe. No foul. Rapinoe complains for a bit, gets up. And then Matheson does the old Kathy Bates on her.
"Two times," Rapinoe screams. Yeah, yeah. Cry us a river.
"Two times," Rapinoe screams. Yeah, yeah. Cry us a river.
28 mins - Now Schmidt de-legs Rapinoe. No foul. Rapinoe complains for a bit, gets up. And then Matheson does the old Kathy Bates on her.
"Two times," Rapinoe screams. Yeah, yeah. Cry us a river.
27 mins - ALMOST ANOTHER. Desiree Scott lofts one in to the far post, where Schmidt is advancing. But the pass is fairly soft. Schmidt can get little power on it. Solo takes it in the air.
26 mins - Jonelle Filigno bitterly contests a foul on a long ball up the field. Tancredi gives her the signal to be quiet and get back.
Female athletes don't get enough credit in this country, I'd have no problem arguing Sinclair as one of the better all around athletes this country has produced in the last little while. She deserves to be put in the same forum as Crosby, GSP considering the things she's done in a sport where its uncommon for a Canadian to dominate
25 mins - Long time to go here. Looong time. But the subs are up and jogging for the U.S.
23 mins - That was just gorgeous. Nault plays a ball into Tancredi, who has her back to goal. She turns and slides it Sinclair. Sinclair dances around her first marker, and then goes around Solo. A finish that was never in doubt. That was world class stuff from Canada
21 mins - HOPE SOLO HAS TOUCHED THE BALL. It wasn't really a shot. But that's progress for Canada.
20 mins - SO CLOSE. Matheson ends up taking it. Filigno was almost on to it until an American tossed her out of the way. It skims through the box.
20 mins - Tancredi and Rampone go all MMA on each other in the corner. I think that's a hip check and an elbow lock. Foul on Rampone. Schmidt standing over it.
19 mins - Tired of trying to pass it through, Rapinoe launches from distance. Let's just say she has no shot at working for NASA.
18 mins - Cheney's storming run through most of the Canadian team finally hits the breakwater at the back. It's like the obligatory wild horse shot in every wistful Western - they are running free.
16 mins - Wambach gets the ball at the top of the Canadian area, slips it across to Lloyd. Her shot hits a Canadian leg and goes wide. Like Prometheus, our team is playing with fire.
15 mins - Lauren Sesselmann makes a huge lunging play to cut out an American pass into the box. The US still dominating, but the siege of the first 12 or 13 minutes has lifted.
14 mins - There are three Canadians standing at the halfway line with Alex Morgan as that corner is taken. Defence first, apparently. 14 mins - Carmelina Moscato shows her disgust with a close out of bounds call. American corner.
13 mins - A CANADIAN MOVE. Sinclair is passed through on goal, but can't quite get together. But that was a huge step in the right direction.
From the ensuing corner, Matheson gathers. It goes off an American. Another corner.
12 mins - Tancredi makes a hopeful run up the flank, but she's not the sort of player to be carrying the ball. It all ends in a jumble of Jonelle Filigno's legs.
11 mins - That space between the defensive and midfield lines that Sinclair was able to exploit in the last two games is non-existent. She's getting squeezed out of the game
10 mins - le Peilbet slips in and gives Tancredi a little hack on the back of the knees. I hope she has fabulous insurance.
9 mins - This time the corner is shorted and Schmidt knocks it out. Here come the U.S. again. This is one-way traffic at the moment
8 mins - On that corner, Wambach gets above Moscato, but the Canadian is able to nod it out. Another corner.
7 mins - Rapinoe with long pass to Morgan - Morgan beats Sesselmann to the ball, but Sesselmann recovers in time to knock it into touch. US corner.
6 mins - Terrible giveaway by Moscato. Rapinoe nearly slots Lloyd through, but a little too much on it. Scott and Matheson - the source of Canada's strength - are getting pushed around in midfield by far larger American players.
5 mins - The Canadians are standing on a dinghy in a monsoon. They are under all sorts of pressure to begin with. They need to survive the first 15 minutes
4 mins - They've managed it now. For about six seconds. US coming on again
3 mins - Rapinoe hammers one in from the flank. McLeod punches it out. Eventually, it winds up back in the Canadian GK's hands. More than three minutes in, Canada has not crossed the halfway line.
2 mins - Carli Lloyd puts it through the wall. A long low shot. Kelley O'Hara nearly sneaks in and taps it on, but instead it skims well wide. Dangerous.
1 mins - A record even by her own high standards for Melissa Tancredi. She's called for the foul on Lauren Cheney about three seconds in. Free kick for the US from the halfway line. They're lining up
The refs are Norwegian.
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