(Saint-Étienne, France) Canada, the reigning Olympic champion, defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the women’s soccer competition at the Paris Games on Thursday.
Quebecer Évelyne Viens, from L’Ancienne-Lorette, made the difference by unleashing an unstoppable shot in the 79th minutee minute of play. The Canadians thus savored their first victory in group A, on the pitch of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.
Mackenzie Barrie opened the scoring early for New Zealand before Sudbury, Ontario’s Cloe Lacasse tied the game in first-half stoppage time.
Assistant coach Andy Spence took over as Canada’s head coach after Bev Priestman voluntarily stepped down ahead of the game.
His decision came after Canada Soccer was embroiled in a drone scandal that led to the expulsion of two members of Priestman’s coaching staff and the launch of a FIFA investigation.
Canada will now face host nation France on Sunday.