Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second | OneFootball

Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second | OneFootball

Icon: Manchester City F.C.

Manchester City F.C.

·27 July 2021

Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second

Article image:Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second

All 12 Manchester City players will compete in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games, as Team GB, Canada and the USA secured progression from the group stage.

Team GB and Canada played out a 1-1 draw in the Group E finale (with Caroline Weir netting a deflected late leveller), while the USA clinched runner-up spot in Group G with a point against Australia.


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Eight of our City stars were in action, with GB's clash against Canada seeing Club teammates line up against each other.

Janine Beckie played the first 45 minutes for Canada, while six City stars were named in Hege Riise’s starting XI: Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Weir, Jill Scott and Georgia Stanway. Ellen White was introduced from the bench.

Steph Houghton remained an unused substitute, while Keira Walsh and Lauren Hemp were rested. Meanwhile, Abby Dahlkemper did not feature for the USA against Australia.

Team GB had already qualified for the quarter-finals with two wins from two but battled Canada for top spot.

Article image:Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second

Adriana Leon's second-half strike broke the deadlock in Kashima but Weir struck with five minutes to go to salvage a crucial point.

The opener arrived on 55 minutes when Ashley Lawrence drove down the left flank and crossed to the backpost for Leon to convert first-time.

Weir had come close to levelling the score with 20 minutes to go, smashing a powerful effort off the crossbar and post from a narrow angle.

Article image:Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second

Stanway and White also tried their luck but Weir enjoyed better fortune with her next attempt, as her long-range strike took a wicked deflection off Nichelle Prince to wrong-foot Stephanie Labbe and bounce in.

The draw cemented top spot for GB to set up a last eight tie against Group G's third-place team Australia, while Canada will face the Group F runners-up: Brazil.

Article image:Weir nets as Team GB top group, Canada and USA finish second

Elsewhere, the USA secured their place in the quarter-finals with a draw against Australia.

Although the game ended goalless, the World Cup winners booked their spot in the knock-out stage with four points from their three games and a superior goal difference to the Matildas.

In a game of few chances, Mary Fowler hit the crossbar, while Alex Morgan saw a goal disallowed for offside.

Sweden topped the group with a 100% record, defeating New Zealand 2-0 in their final game, and will play the best third-placed team of Group E: Japan.

The USA will play the Netherlands (winners of Group F) with all quarter-final fixtures taking place on Friday 30 July.

QUARTER-FINALS: Friday 30 July

Match 22: Canada v Brazil, 9:00 UK time, Miyagi Stadium, Rifu

Match 19: Team GB v Australia, 10:00 UK time, Kashima Stadium, Kashima

Match 21: Sweden v Japan, 11:00 UK time, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama

Match 20: Netherlands v United States, 12:00 UK time, International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama

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