We’re going to Rio!
Canada will have the chance to defend their Olympic bronze medal this summer after they earned their third-straight qualification through a 3-1 win over Costa Rica on Friday in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship.
Burnaby native Christine Sinclair scored twice for Canada, including a world-class volley off the crossbar, and 16-year-old Deanne Rose added a late tally to secure the victory. Sinclair, who recently surpassed Mia Hamm to move into second on the all-time international scoring list, now has 161 international goals – 23 back of Abby Wambach, who sits atop the list.
Goal CAN - No. 12 Christine SINCLAIR @sincy12 | @CanadaSoccerEN@Fedefutbol_CR#CWOQ2016https://t.co/s6QmIhnMYp
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) February 19, 2016
“She is class,” Canada head coach John Herdman said of Sinclair. “When you ask her to deliver, she delivers. Wow, what a performance. Stick with her (because) we’re going to Rio and will have another crack at the podium.”
Canada, now 4-0 in the tournament, will face the U.S. in the CONCACAF Final on Sunday. The Red and White are two-time CONCACAF champions.
This summer's Rio 2016 Women's Olympic Football Tournament will again feature 12 nations. The 32-match final competition runs August 3-20 at seven stadiums in six cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo.
The first eight nations to qualify are Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Canada. The Official Draw for all 12 finalists will take place on April 14, 2016.
