In Belo Horizonte, Canada prevailed 1-0 over France in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics in a match that pitted Thorns FC teammates Christine Sinclair and Amandine Henry head-to-head. Both players started and played the full 90 for their respective sides with Sinclair wearing the captain's armband for Canada.
After a scoreless first half, it was former University of Portland Pilot Sophie Schmidt who struck for Canada. Her teammate Janine Beckie served a looping ball near the back post that Schmidt hit on the volley into the roof of the net to giver her side a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish.
Henry and France put on the pressure for the rest of the half with attacking pressure but were unable to find an equalizer.
Canada and Sinclair now face Germany in the semifinals next Tuesday (12pm PT, NBCSN) with a spot in the gold medal final on the line.
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The U.S. Women's National Team lost in heartbreaking fashion to Sweden on penalties Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics women's soccer tournament in Brasilia. All four American Thorns FC players saw action in the match with Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg and Allie Long all starting while Lindsey Horan came on in extra time.
In a game that saw the USWNT dominate almost every statistical category, it was Sweden who went up first with a goal in the 61st minute by Stina Blackstenius. The Americans evened the score 16 minutes later when forward Alex Morgan pounced on a deflected ball and finished to the bottom corner. With the U.S. looking for the game-winner late, Heath had two dangerous shots from distance that forced saves from Swedish 'keeper Hedvig Lindahl.
However, the score stayed locked at 1-1 till the end of 90 minutes and all through two halves of extra time forcing a tense penalty kick shootout. After Morgan's first penalty attempt for the USWNT was saved, Horan stepped to the spot and buried her shot.
While American 'keeper Hope Solo saved a shot of her own to bring the two teams level, Christen Press missed the team's fifth and final attempt before Lisa Dalkvist converted moments later to put the Swedes through to the semis.
