New Zealand's Indiah-Paige Riley and Canada's Cloe Lacasse vie for the ball during the women's Group A soccer match between Canada and New Zealand at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 25, in Saint-Etienne, France.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
One day after they were roiled by pre-Olympic controversy, the Canadian national women’s soccer team began their gold-medal defence Thursday with a nervy 2-1 victory over New Zealand.
Under different circumstances, you might call going down early to an inferior side and then fighting back to win a great way to start. But maybe not in this situation. Despite having four times as many shots as their opponent, Canada often looked out of sorts.
Amazingly, New Zealand’s goal – its only quality attempt on net – came via a corner kick. That would be the sort of set play it might help to know about before a match is played.
On Wednesday, Canadian officials admitted that one of the women’s team’s staffers spied on two New Zealand practices via drone. The staffer was arrested, charged, plead guilty and then sent home by the Canadian Olympic Committee. His superior, an assistant coach, was also dismissed.
Head coach Bev Priestman was not in attendance at nearly empty Stade Geoffrey-Guichard for Thursday’s match. Priestman volunteered to suspend herself for the first game “in the spirit of accountability.”
She is due to return to coach the team’s next game on Sunday against host France. That promises to be a much greater test and a far more raucous environment.
New Zealand's Katie Kitching, left, and Canada's Jade Rose vie for the ball during the women's Group A soccer match between Canada and New Zealand at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
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Canada's stand-in coach Andy Spence gestures in the women's group A football match between Canada and New Zealand during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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New Zealand's forward Grace Jale fights for the ball with Canada's #10 Ashley Lawrence and #11 Adriana Leon.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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New Zealand's midfielder #11 Katie Kitching and Canada's midfielder #17 Jessie Fleming fight for the ball.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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Adriana Leon #11 of Team Canada runs with the ball under pressure from Rebekah Stott #13 of Team New Zealand.Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
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New Zealand's defender #04 Cj Bott and Canada's midfielder #17 Jessie Fleming in the women's group A football match.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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Adriana Leon #11 of Team Canada is challenged by Mackenzie Barry #3 of Team New Zealand.Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
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Canada's forward #06 Cloe Lacasse (Covered) celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's first goal in the women's group A football match between Canada and New Zealand.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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Canada's forward #06 Cloe Lacasse scores her team's first goal in the women's group A football match between Canada and New Zealand.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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Canada's Cloe Lacasse, right, is congratulated after scoring her side's first goal.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
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New Zealand's defender #03 Mackenzie Barry and Canada's midfielder #05 Rebecca Quinn fight for the ball.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
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New Zealand's Indiah-Paige Riley, left, and Canada's Cloe Lacasse vie for the ball during the women's Group A soccer match.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
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The mascot for the Olympics greets fans prior to the women's Group A soccer match between Canada and New Zealand at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
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New Zealand's midfielder #11 Katie Kitching and Canada's defender #12 Jade Rose fight for the ball.ARNAUD FINISTRE/Getty Images
