Canada top Brazil 2-1 to win bronze in women's football

Sao Paulo, Aug 20 (IANS) Brazil's women's football team came away empty-handed in Rio Olympics, losing 1-2 to Canada in the bronze-medal match here on Friday.

Deanne Rose, 17, opened the scoring for Canada in the 25th minute and then set up teammate Christine Sinclair for a goal at the 52-minute mark to make the score 2-0 at Arena Corinthians, Efe news reported.

The North Americans' dominance was only interrupted at the 79-minute mark, when Brazilian striker Beatriz broke free of two defenders and got off a shot well out of the reach of goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe.

The final score could have been more lopsided, but two shots by Canadian players clanked off the woodwork -- one by Sinclair off a free kick in the ninth minute that struck the crossbar and another by Rose that ricocheted off the right upright.

The Brazilians appeared to be lacking in motivation after falling short of the gold-medal match in a loss to Sweden, which won a penalty shoot-out 4-3 after the teams had played to a scoreless draw after two 45-minute halves and a pair of 15-minute extra times.

Brazil needed more scoring punch against Canada but did not get a strong game from 31-year-old striker Cristiane, the all-time leading scorer in Olympic women's soccer with 14 goals dating back to the 2004 Athens Games, or legendary playmaker Marta, the national squad's career leader in goals scored.

The gold-medal match will be played late Friday afternoon at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro and pit Sweden against Germany.

--IANS

pur/lok