In a drama-drenched day at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, Australia and Zambia played out an all-time classic, with the Matildas coming from 5-2 down to win 6-5.

A stoppage-time winner by Canada’s Vanessa Gilles, meanwhile, denied France a place in the knockout phase for the time being. USA and Spain did, however, ensure they will play in the quarter-finals following victories over Germany and Nigeria, respectively. Elsewhere, Japan struck twice in stoppage time to record a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Brazil, while Colombia kickstarted their campaign with a 2-0 victory against New Zealand.

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Group A
New Zealand 0-2 Colombia
Goals: Restrepo (27), Santos (72)

Colombia bagged their first Paris 2024 points with an impressive win over New Zealand in Lyon. Las Cafeteras hit the front in some style midway through the first half, Marcela Restrepo finding the bottom corner with a sweet 20-yard volley. The impressive Manuela Vanegas then saw a powerful effort smack off the crossbar on the stroke of half-time. Vanegas had a key role to play in Colombia’s second goal – her low cross was brilliantly dummied by Catalina Usme, with Leicy Santos on hand to crash the ball home.

What they said…
“We got beaten by a team that came out and really challenged us in every area of the game and unfortunately we came off second best in a lot of those areas. Although we finished okay and showed energy towards the end of the game, it was just too little, too late.”
Michael Mayne, New Zealand manager

France 1-2 Canada
Goals
France: Katoto (42)
Canada: Fleming (58), Gilles (90+12)

Canada left it until the last moment to keep their Olympic dream alive, as Vanessa Gilles struck in the 102nd minute to defeat a wasteful France in Saint-Etienne. The hosts started well and eventually broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Marie-Antoinette Katoto shimmied her way inside and finished coolly into the bottom-left corner. Canada didn’t take that hit lying down, however, and levelled just before the hour after a cross from fell to captain Jessie Fleming to tap into an unguarded net. The North Americans looked to be heading home, until Gilles popped up in the 12th minute of stoppage time to slot in a dramatic winner.

What they said…
“We knew that the Canadians were going to give everything and that they were going to push. They had nothing to lose and they did their job tonight. We knew they weren’t going to put any pressure on themselves and they were present in the one on ones. They deserved the goal in stoppage time.”
Sakina Karchaoui, France

Group B
Australia 6-5 Zambia
Goals
Australia: Kennedy (7), Raso (35), Musole own goal (58), Catley (65, 78), Heyman (90)
Zambia: Banda (1, 33, 45+2), Kundananji (21, 56)

An incredible Australia comeback sunk a dejected Zambia in the second highest-scoring game ever witnessed at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Barbra Banda started the goal-fest with a dipping 30-yard drive, and while Alanna Kennedy levelled soon after, Racheal Kundananji and Banda put the Copper Queens two goals ahead. Hayley Raso headed home to reduce the deficit, only for a wayward Matildas clearance to ricochet in off Banda – who becomes the first woman to net three Olympic hat-tricks. Kundananji headed in her second ten minutes after the half-time interval to make it 5-2, but a Ngambo Musole own goal, a Steph Catley double and late Michelle Heyman winner completed a comeback of Hollywood proportions.

USA 4-1 Germany
Goals
USA: Smith (11, 44), Swanson (26), Williams (89)
Germany: Gwinn (22)

USA confirmed their place in the knockout stage in style with a thumping victory over Germany. Sophia Smith got them up and running with a close-range finish, but Guilia Gwinn soon equalised with a pinpoint low drive. Mallory Swanson put USA back in front, prodding in when Ann-Katrin Berger parried a Smith shot, and Smith then got her second with the aid of a wicked deflection. Substitute Lynn Williams’ clinical effort wrapped up the scoring late in the piece.

What they said…
“I really enjoyed the game. It was fun. It was a high-level game against a high-level opponent. It was a mature performance from us. Of course, you have to suffer at times, because they’re a top team. But I thought we were devastating when we needed to be.”
Emma Hayes, USA coach

“In the end, we had several chances to take the lead. But we missed these chances and then the USA showed us what it’s like to convert your chances effectively. That’s why I believe that it wasn’t necessarily the much better team that won today, but the more effective one. We often lack the final precision and that cost us the three points today – quite clearly in the end.”
Giulia Gwinn, Germany goalscorer

Group C
Brazil 1-2 Japan
Goals
Brazil: Jhennifer (56)
Japan: Kumagai pen (90+2), Tanikawa (90+6)

A sensational Japan late show downed Brazil, with the Nadeshiko scoring twice in the game’s dying moments to secure a famous win. Japan could have taken the lead late in the first half via the penalty spot, but Mina Tanaka saw her effort saved by Lorena. Brazil then capitalised early in the second half when Ludmila found her fellow substitute Jhennifer, who made no mistake in confidently slotting home. That looked like being the winner until stoppage time when Japan were awarded another penalty, which Saki Kumagai calmly side-footed beyond Lorena. Then, before anyone in the stadium could catch their breath, Momoko Tanikawa capitalised on a defensive mishap to loft a stunning 25-yard shot into the South Americans’ net.

What they said…
“I went on the pitch with a determination that I was going to turn this game around. I was aware that the goalkeeper’s position was up before the game, and the coach told me to aim for long shots more and more. I was willing to go for it if I had the chance and I’m glad my goal led to victory.”
Momoko Tanikawa, Japan goalscorer.

Spain 1-0 Nigeria
Goal: Putellas (86)

World champions Spain left it late to secure all three points against Nigeria in Nantes. La Roja thought they had taken the lead ten minutes into the second half when Salma Paralluelo bundled the ball home from a wicked Teresa Abelleira cross, only for it to be disallowed following a review for an offside in the build-up. Alexia Putellas, who had a shot cleared off the line just moments before, would eventually settle the contest, when her looping 86th-minute free-kick floated all the way in. Spain are now assured of their progress to the quarter-finals.