Fleming, Canada Win First Olympic Gold
Jessie Fleming (UCLA '21) captured UCLA's first gold medal of the 2020 Olympic Games, winning team gold with Canada soccer after a 3-2 penalty kick shootout win against Sweden.
Fleming scored the game-tying goal in the second half and converted Canada's first penalty kick in the shootout to lead the Canadians to their first-ever Olympic gold medal after earning bronze in each of the last two Olympic Games.
The three-time All-American and current Chelsea FC midfielder finished the Olympic tournament with two goals, both on penalty kicks, and was 4-for-4 in penalty kicks. At just 23 years old, Fleming already has an Olympic gold and an Olympic bronze medal in her collection.
FOR THE FIRST TIME - CANADA HAS WON GOLD IN WOMEN'S SOCCER! 🥇#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/nj0TwLt8Z9
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021
Sweden, who finished the game with 24 shots and 14 corner kicks, scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute on a goal by Stina Blackstenius, her fifth of the tournament.
Canada leveled the game in the 66th minute after being awarded a penalty kick following VAR review on a foul on Christine Sinclair in the box. Fleming, who took the winning penalty kick against the U.S. in the semifinal, stepped up to take it again and fired to the left post as Sweden's goalkeeper dove the opposite way. Fleming nearly put the Canadians ahead minutes later, missing just high.
🔥 ¡HAY PARTIDO, SEÑORES! 🔥
🇨🇦 @_jessiefleming define de manera magistral el penal que mete al partido a @CanadaSoccerEN
📲 ¡Disfrútalo por la APP Telemundo Deportes! ➡️ https://t.co/eNJKwrqJyA #OlimpicosTelemundo #SWE 1-1 #CAN pic.twitter.com/jQIkwrCDeA
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 6, 2021
Each team had chances in the waning minutes of regulation to score the winning goal. Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan saved a Sweden goal in the 89th minute with a backline save on a Kosovare Asllani shot, and Fleming just missed high on a long-distance shot in stoppage time.
Sweden had two near misses in extra time, and Canada's defense was relentless, particularly in an 118th minute sequence that kept a flurry of Swedish shots out of goal.
In the penalty shootout, Sweden went first and hit the right post. Fleming countered with another perfectly-placed kick, once again going to the 'keeper's right to convert. Canada missed three straight and needed Deanne Rose to convert the fifth in order to stay alive, and Rose came through. On the sixth shot, Stephanie Labbe made her second save of the shootout, and Julia Grosso made the golden shot to give Canada the win.
Canada finished the tournament with a 3-0-3 record and allowed just four goals in six matches.