Canada survived a breathless final fifteen minutes to beat Brazil 2-1 and claim the Olympic Bronze medal on Friday 19 August, 2016. Canada opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Deanne Rose scored her first Olympic goal from an Ashley Lawrence assist. Rose turned provider in the 52nd minute, assisting Christine Sinclair to make the lead 2-0. Brazil claimed one back through Beatriz in the 79th minute, but Canada were able to stand strong and repeat as Olympic bronze medallists, the first Canadian team to repeat as medallists since 1908.

The match was played in front of 39,718 fans at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil - the largest crowd in front of which Canada has played this calendar year.

FIRST HALF:

Brazil didn't wait long to get on the front foot, winning a free kick 45 yards out in the second minute. Marta looked to curl the ball towards the back post and Formiga was close to getting a touch, but the ball bounced harmlessly wide. The fifth minute saw an almost carbon copy but the play was whistled down for offside before any danger could come of it.

Canada posted notice of the threat they pose in the ninth minute. Deanne Rose turned the central defender deftly and spread the play wide for Diana Matheson. Her cross was cleared, but only as far as Ashley Lawrence who was able to win a free kick in a dangerous position, 25 yards out and slightly to the left of centre. Christine Sinclair stepped up and stroked the ball towards goal, only being denied by the woodwork.

Canada were doing a good job of pinning back the Brazilian team, but Marta will always pose a threat, winning a corner in the 13th minute after Ashley Lawrence did very well to deny her time and space. The set-piece was cleared to the top of the box, but a foul was called on Andressa Alves before the return shot could come in.

Canada opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a blistering counter attack. Shelina Zadorsky dispossessed Rafaelle on the edge of the Canadian penalty box and looked up to see Lawrence in space just inside the Canadian half. Lawrence stormed up the left side of the field, leaving Fabiana in her wake, and delivered a measured squaring pass for Deanne Rose to run onto perfectly. Rose struck the ball first time low and hard, scoring her first Olympic goal and becoming the youngest goalscorer in Women's Olympics soccer history. Canada were up 1-0 and deserving of their lead.

Cristiane earned a free kick in the centre of the field in the 31st minute, a dead ball that Marta stepped up to take responsibility for. Her effort from 30 yards out was on target, but right down the centre of the goal where Stephanie Labbé was able to gather with little trouble.

Brazil kept Canada on their toes with a threatening passage of play in the 43rd minute. A free kick whipped in from the right flank was initially cleared by Tancredi, as was the second ball into the six yard box. The ball then settled twenty yards out where Monica took a low shot through traffic. Labbé was able to gather despite the attentions of Cristiane who was subsequently ruled to be offside.

SECOND HALF:

Brazil came out strongly in the second half, looking to even up the scoreline quickly. Debinha was able to wriggle free to get her head on a cross in the 47th minute, putting her attempt wide. Marta came close to getting on the end of a through ball a minute later, but Buchanan was able to get across to the ball quickly and get it clear, getting fouled by the Brazilian captain who was booked for her challenge.

Canada doubled their lead in the 52nd minute through captain Christine Sinclair. Jessie Fleming had done well out on the right touchline to pressure Brazil into turning the ball over. She then played a very neat through-ball for Deanne Rose, who had delayed her run well, to chase into the right side of the penalty area. The youngster then squared the ball for Sinclair who had the time to bring it under control and fire home unchallenged from six yards out.

Deanne Rose then struck the post herself in the 58th minute when Tancredi nodded on a long ball out of defence. Rose wasn't picked up by the Brazilian defence at all and found herself in on goal after taking one touch. Her shot left Barbara stranded but hit the top of the left post, bouncing away before Canada could capitalize on the rebound.

Canada again came close in the 67th minute. Ashley Lawrence picked the ball up in her own half on the right flank and was given the time and space to stroll into the penalty area. Lawrence took a shot on her weaker right foot that had Barbara stretched and left a rebound in front of an open net. Substitute Sophie Schmidt was able to get close, but the chance was contested well by Poliana and the chance ended in a goal kick.

As the game clock ticked on Canada were making Brazil work hard for every inch of space in the final third, but they were still able to come close in the 76th minute when Marta put in a tantalizing cross from the left flank across the edge of the six yard box. Debinha was the one of a crowd of players to make contact, but her header was straight into the ground and bounced just over the joint of crossbar and post.

Brazil reduced the lead in the 79th minute. A throw in from the left side was knocked on by Erika into the six yard box. Beatriz was facing away from goal but took a touch and turned inside well, finishing with her left foot into the right side of the goal. Brazil had pulled back a goal, but Canada still led 2-1.

Brazil looked to use their momentum to seize control of the game, Marta losing her footing in the 84th minute when she was in a dangerous position, and Labbé doing well to claim a viciously whipped in free-kick later on. Beatriz then did very well to turn at the top of the box and buy herself enough space to get a shot off. She was looking for the far post, but couldn't get her foot around the ball to curl it enough.

Labbé claimed a long ball confidently in the 88th minute, only to be the subject of a late challenge from Rafaelle, who was shown a yellow card for her brusque attempt to influence the game.

It was all hands to the pump for the Canadian defensive effort in the 90th minute, Beatriz and Marta combining well on the right side of the field to engineer a shooting opportunity that was charged down by the effervescent Jessie Fleming.

Brazil's last roll of the dice came in the 93rd minute, Formiga sending in a straight ball from deep that Beatriz tried to flick into the right corner. The ball slid wide and the referee would blow for full time the moment Labbé restarted from the goal kick. Canada had held on and won the game 2-1.

LINEUPS & NOTES:

Canada's starting XI featured Stephanie Labbé in goal, Josée Bélanger at right back, Kadeisha Buchanan and Shelina Zadorsky at centre back, Ashley Lawrence at left back, with Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott, Jessie Fleming, captain Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi, and Deanne Rose from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach John Herdman replaced Rose with Allysha Chapman (59'), Matheson with Sophie Schmidt (66'), and Tancredi with Janine Beckie (69').

Brazil's starting XI featured Bárbara in goal, Fabiane at right back, Mônica and Rafaelle at centre back, Tamires at left back, with Thaisa, Formiga, captin Marta, Andressa Alves, Cristiane, and Beatriz from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, coach Vadão replaced Cristiane with Debihna (46'), Andressa Alves with Poliana (57'), and Tamires with Érika (63').

During the match, Teodora Albon cautioned Andressa Alves (43'), Marta (49'), and Rafaelle (87').

Of note in the match, Christine Sinclair became the first Canadian to make her 250th international appearance. Her goal was the 165th of her international career and 11th of her Olympic Games career (both national records). As for youngster Deanne Rose, at 17 years young she became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

For Canada, it marked their 15th international win of the 2016 calendar year, a single-year record for the program since it was established in 1986.