🏅 Olympics 2024: Canada reach quarter finals; hosts France march on | OneFootball

There were six fixtures taking place across the group stages of the women’s Olympic Games on Wednesday.

Here’s what went down.

Canada clinch knockout spot

Scorers: Gilles 61′

Canada sealed their place in the quarter finals with a 1-0 win over Colombia.

Vanessa Gilles headed home shortly after the hour mark with a header from Jessie Fleming’s free kick to set up a clash with Germany.

The Canucks finish as Group A runners-up, having been deducted six points over the drone scandal which saw head coach Bev Priestman sent home.

Hosts France march on

Scorers: Taylor 43′; Katoto 22′, 49′

France advanced as Group A winners after seeing off New Zealand with a 2-1 win.

The host nation took an early first-half lead when Anna Leat failed to keep out Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s header from a Sandy Baltimore cross.

Kate Taylor drew the Football Ferns level shortly before half time with a half-volley from distance that was helped on by the inside of the post.

But Katoto restored Les Bleues’ margin by swiping the ball home in the penalty area just four minutes after the interval in Lyon.

Hervé Renard’s side will now take on Brazil, who finished third in Group C despite their defeat to Spain.

USA end Australia’s dream

Scorers: Kennedy 90+2′; Rodman 43′, Albert 77′

Australia faced a nervous wait on their Olympic dream after a 2-1 defeat to the USA in their Group B finale.

Trinity Rodman prodded home an opener for Emma Hayes’s side shortly before half time from a loose ball at a corner.

The Stars and Stripes’ lead was doubled in the closing stages as Korbin Albert scored her first international goal with a curling strike.

Alanna Kennedy notched a late consolation for the Matlidas deep in added time to halve their deficit and give them a faint hope of progressing.

Hayes’s side will now face Japan in Saturday’s quarter-final clash at the Parc des Princes but Australia ultimately failed to progress.

Germany coast past Zambia

Scorers: Banda 50′; Schüller 10′, 61′, Bühl 48′, Senss 90+7′

Germany assured their place in the quarter finals with a 4-1 win over Zambia.

Lea Schüller slotted home comfortably in the tenth minute as the Frauenteam consolidated their runner-up spot behind the USA.

Their advantage was extended early in the second half when Klara Bühl swept home a swerving effort from outside the penalty area.

Zambia produced a near-instant response through Babra Banda taking advantage of Anna-Katrin Berger being caught off her line.

But Schüller restored her country’s two-goal lead by sweeping home from Bühl’s cutback to the far post shortly after the hour mark.

Elisa Senss added a fourth late into the Saint-Étienne encounter as Germany faced a short wait to discover Canada as their last eight opponents.

Marta sees red in Spain win

Scorers: Castillo 68′, Putellas 90+17′

Sent off: Marta

Spain completed a perfect group campaign with their 2-0 win over 10-player Brazil.

A cagey opening 45 minutes exploded into life when Seleção captain Marta was sent off for a high-footed challenge on Olga Carmona.

La Roja’s advantage was rewarded when Athenea del Castillo broke the deadlock midway through the second half with a close-range strike.

Alexia Putellas added insult to injury in the 17th minute of added time with a stunning effort from distance.

Montse Tomé’s side will face Colombia, who were the best-placed third team across Groups A and B while Brazil will face hosts France.

Japan set up USA showdown

Scorers: Hamano 22′, Tanaka 32′, Kitagawa 45+5′; Echegini 42′

Japan pipped Brazil to Group C’s runner-up spot with a 3-1 win over Nigeria.

Maika Hamano opened the scoring midway through the first half by slotting home into an empty net from close range.

That was followed up just ten minutes later by Mina Tanaka’s header after the ball crashed back off the crossbar.

Onyi Echegini reduced the Super Falcons’ deficit shortly before half time with a superb strike from outside the penalty area.

But Japan restored their two-goal cushion deep in added time courtesy of Hikaru Kitagawa’s well-struck free kick.

The Nadeshiko are now set to face Group B winners USA in the quarter finals.