Canada fell 0:2 to Germany in the Quarter-Final stage at the Rio 2016 Women's Olympic Football Tournament, with goals by Melanie Behringer and Sara Däbritz on either side of the half-time whistle. Canada pushed hard and carried the bulk of possession, but could not convert their chances in the 16 August match.

Canada will next face Brazil in the Rio 2016 bronze medal match on 19 August.

FIRST HALF:

Similarly to their previous meeting, the game started scrappily, both teams fighting hard in midfield and testing the opposition back-line. Stephanie Labbe's first major involvement was in the eighth minute when she dove in amongst a crowd of feet to claim a low cross that was worked into the penalty box from a German free kick.

Janine Beckie had a great chance to put Canada ahead in the 12th minute. Ashley Lawrence had been picked out on the left wing with acres of space around her. She drove into the area and put the ball towards the back post where Beckie had made a run and found herself unmarked but her header was inches wide of the right post.

The German team won a penalty in the 20th minute when Kadeisha Buchanan was judged to have fouled Alexandra Popp. The Canadian centre back was also given a yellow card for the challenge. Melanie Behringer made no mistake from the spot, firing it powerfully into the top left corner. It was 1-0 to Germany, in very similar circumstances to the group stage game.

The game settled down in the minutes after the goal, with Germany happy to sit a bit deeper and work hard to intercept any long balls the Canadians put forward. Ashley Lawrence was able to gather a loose ball on the edge of the area in the 34th minute after a sweeping offensive move from Canada. Her shot was on target but straightforward enough for Almuth Scuhlt to hold.

Sophie Schmidt was a toe away from getting the equalizer in the 38th minute after Melissa Tancredi did well to glance a Zadorsky long ball ahead. Schmidt gave chase but was very well shepherded away from the ball by Tabea Kemme, giving Schult just enough time to come off her line and lash the ball clear.

Canada were pushing hard towards the end of the half, getting a lot of players forward and finding space on both flanks. Buchanan came closest for Canada, meeting a corner in the 45th minute, heading it back towards the right side post, beating the goalkeeper but not the gathered defenders on the line who were able to hack it clear and keep the score 1-0 going in at the break.

SECOND HALF:

Germany had a good look at goal straight after the restart. Substitute Sara Dabritz received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and cut back well onto her right foot to create some space. Her shot was saved well by Labbe and went out for a corner which was cleared well by Christine Sinclair.

Ashley Lawrence was booked in the 55th minute when Melanie Leupolz looked to dribble past her. The free-kick was in a dangerous spot and was curled in well by Behringer. Leupolz managed to get a touch but the ball curled just wide of the left post.

Germayt went 2-0 up in the 60th minute, Germany breaking well and working the ball across the Canadian defensive line, Anja Mittag in particular doing well to keep the ball moving from right to left. It fell to Däbritz on the left side of the box who did well to cut inside and fire it inside the near post.

Canada worked themselves into a very dangerous position in the 67th minute, substitute Diana Matheson working hard to get into a good position on the right wing. Her initial cross was cleared back to her, but her second ball was controlled well by Sinclair to make a dangerous chance that eventually won a corner.

Matheson was again involved in the 69th minute, when Sinclair very smartly found her in space on the right side of the area with a header down from a looped clearance. Matheson was able to bring the ball under control and fire a shot at goal that was held by Schult at her near post.

Canada were having the majority of the game going their way, but Alexandra Popp served a reminder to their Canadians to sty focussed in their own end, as she let loose a fierce shot at the end of a break, fizzing the ball just wide of the left post.

Matheson continued to prove a problem for Germany, receiving a delicate through ball from Jessie Fleming to get her into a good position on the right side of the box in the 80th minute. The angle wasn't perfect, but her shot was hard and on target. Schult made a terrific save to keep the Canadian midfielder off the score-sheet.

Canada kept pushing right until the end of the game, Matheson taking a shot in the 90th minute through a crowded area that was deflected out for a corner. Canada kept the ball in the final third, winning another corner. This one was bounced around before falling for substitute Nichelle Prince in the six yard box. Her back was to goal, however, and she wasn't able to turn on the ball enough to get the shot on target.

Despite Canada's push for goals they were unable to break through and the game ended 2:0.

LINEUPS & NOTES:

Canada's starting XI featured Stephanie Labbé in goal, Rhian Wilkinson at right back, Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky at centre back, Ashley Lawrence at left back, and Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott, Jessie Fleming, captain Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi, and Janine Beckie from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach John Herdman replaced Wilkinson with Diana Matheson (60'), Scott with Deanne Rose (74'), and Tancredi with Nichelle Prince (85').

Germany's starting XI featured Almuth Schult in goal, Leonie Maier at right back, captain Saskia Bartusiak and Annike Krahn at centre back, Tabea Kemme at left back, and Melanie Behringer, Sara Däbritz, Dzsenifer Marozsán, Melanie Leupolz, Alexandra Popp, and Anja Mittag from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Silvia Neid replaced Marozsán with Lena Goeßling (46'), Mittag with Isabel Kerschowski (81'), and Leupolz with Mandy Islacker (90'+3).

Referee Ri Hyang Ok, who was calling her second Canada-Germany match in a week, cautioned Buchanan (20') in the first half and then both Lawrence (55') and Tancredi (65') in the second half. The match was played in front of 5,641 fans at Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte.