Women's Olympic football: Team GB top group after late draw with Canada

Team GB top group after draw with Canada

By Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

A late equaliser from Caroline Weir sent Great Britain through to the quarter-finals of the women's football tournament in Tokyo 2020 as group winners after a 1-1 draw with Canada.

Scot Weir's long-range effort took a heavy deflection as GB came from behind in the 85th minute.

With qualification already secured, they needed just a point against Canada to ensure they topped Group E.

Canada had taken the lead through West Ham's Adriana Leon.

Team GB will now face Australia, led by Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, in the next round.

In the other game in Group E, hosts Japan recorded a 1-0 win over Chile to finish third in the table.

Crucial impact off the bench

Head coach Hege Riise rotated heavily as GB's qualification had been secured following victory over Japan on Saturday.

Rachel Daly's versatility saw her start on the right in attack while Georgia Stanway was to the left of Nikita Parris.

Jill Scott was given the nod in midfield too as Wales' Sophie Ingle captained the side for the first time.

But GB lacked fluidity in the final third. Lucy Bronze got forward often on the right, but could not link up with Daly, while Parris often dropped too deep, meaning GB did not have a focal point up front.

And sloppiness in possession proved costly in the 55th minute when Ashley Lawrence raced away down the left before cutting it back to an unmarked Leon to thump home the opener.

Riise did not waste time in bringing on top scorer Ellen White and key midfielder Kim Little - and they immediately made an impact.

Little found Weir with a sharp pass as the Manchester City midfielder struck the underside of the crossbar and the inside of the post with a cross-turned-shot.

And it was Weir who got the crucial equaliser with a trademark long-range effort - helped heavily by a deflection off Nichelle Prince.

It ensured GB go into the quarter-finals unbeaten, looking to go one further than their last-eight finish in London 2012.

'I believe strongly in this team'

Team GB head coach Hege Riise: "I believe strongly in this team. It's a great team that always finds a way to come back and we did. Closer to the finish, we started to get some momentum and luckily we were good enough to get the goal.

"It was an important goal, we top the group, we're staying here and we have a little bit more rest so we are happy.

"There are always things you want to improve on. We have played three games against three good opponents and have performed better and better. We haven't been together that long so we'll improve every game."

'Substitutions changed the energy' - analysis

Former Great Britain international Karen Carney:

You could see how much Great Britain wanted to win the group.

The first half was cagey and nothing really happened. They got hit with a goal from a counter-attack. It was really good from Adriana Leon in particular.

Then it was about bringing the substitutes on and making changes. They really changed the energy of the game. Eventually they got the deserved equaliser from Caroline Weir.

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