Canada opens Olympic campaign with important win

• Canada 2 (Lacasse 45’+4’; Viens 79’), New Zealand 1 (Barry 13’) 
• Viens’ 6th international goal proved the difference for the Canadians 
• Buchanan becomes 6th woman to earn 150 caps for Canada 

With the dronegate scandal still hanging over its head, the Canadian women’s team got down to business and put on a professional display in its opening match at the Paris Olympics. 

Canada came from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over New Zealand on Thursday in Group A action from Saint Étienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as it began defence of it gold medal.  

Cloé Lacasse and substitute Evelyne Viens scored for the Canadians who dominated and dictated the pace of the game against the overmatched New Zealanders.

Canada outshot its opponents 15-4 (6-1 on target), had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks, and enjoyed 60 per cent possession. It took the reigning Olympic champions a bit of time to find their attacking rhythm after a somewhat laboured start. Once they did it was essentially all one-way traffic as the Canadians attacked in waves and put constant pressure on New Zealand that proved to be too much for it to handle after taking a surprising lead early in the contest.