On a historic day in Coventry, Canada won its first Olympic medal in women’s football with a last-minute 1:0 win over France to pick up bronze at London 2012. Diana Matheson scored the medal-winning goal with less than a minute remaining in the match.

Canada had repelled just about everything France threw at them as their opponents had the bulk of the opportunities but time and again Canada held strong and late into second half stoppage time Diana Matheson followed the play in after chipping into Sophie Schmidt and banged home the ball when it came to her to give Canada its first Olympic medal in a team sport since 1936.

Canada’s previous highest finish in an international competition was a fourth-place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003.

The game never really came to life in the second half as both teams looked a bit drained after their respective semi-finals. Elodie Thomis, who opened the scoring in France’s 2:0 win over Canada at the 2012 Cyprus Women's Cup final in March, had a few half chances but nothing that troubled Erin McLeod in the Canadian goal. Her best chance came in the 27th minute as she tested McLeod from down the right wing.

France came to life in the second half and would have had the lead had it not been for some help from the frame of the goal and some last gasp Canadian defending. McLeod was also terrific with yet another big save on Thomis in the 49th minute.

In the 62nd minute, Thomis played a cutback to Gaëtane Thiney whose shot struck the bottom of the post. Canada couldn’t fully clear the ball and Louisa Necib’s follow-up shot was deflected wide. Just a minute later Thomis again caused difficulty as she raced past the defender and fired on goal, but the shot rattled off the crossbar and stayed out.

In the 70th minute, France finally got a shot on target through Corine Franco but Desiree Scott got over to clear the ball off the line. France were close again in the 78th minute and again in the 86th minute. No matter what France did, the ball just wouldn't go into the net past player-of-the-match McLeod.

Finally in the dying minutes, Canada's offence started to come. Canada's first chance came off a free kick after a driving Christine Sinclair was forcefully taken down on the run. While the Canada could not convert on that kick, it would just a minute later when Matheson scored with but 10 seconds left on the referee's watch.

CANADA-FRANCE LINEUPS:
For this historic match, Canada's starting XI featured Erin McLeod in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, Carmelina Moscato and Lauren Sesselmann at centre back, Marie-Eve Nault was at left back, and Sophie Schmidt, Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott, Melissa Tancredi, Christine Sinclair and Jonelle Filigno from the midfield up to the attack.

In the second half Canadian coach John Herdman replaced Filigno with Kaylyn Kyle (55’), Tancredi with Brittany Timko (77’) and Nault with Candace Chapman (83’).

France had a starting XI of Sarah Bouhaddi in goal with Wendie Renard, Laura Georges, Corine Franco and Sonia Bompastor on the back line. Sandrine Soubeyrand, Louisa Necib, Elise Bussaglia, Marie-Laure Delie, Elodie Thomis and Gaëtane Thiney made up the midfield and attack.

In the second half, French coach Bruno Bini replaced Soubeyrand with Camille Abilly (54’),  Delie with Eugénie Le Sommer (61’) and Thomis with Camille Catala (90+2').

MORE MATCH NOTES:
Of note in this match, Sophie Schmidt tied the national record by making her 46th consecutive appearance for Canada. Schmidt tied the record set by Randee Hermus in 2008 (46 matches from 2006 to 2008).

In terms of milestones, forward Jonelle Filigno made her 50th international appearance for Canada. Also, in making her 22nd start of the season, Christine Sinclair tied the national record for starts in a season (originally set in 2008 by her, Candace Chapman and Rhian Wilkinson).