In the final day of group play Canada clinched the top spot in Group F with an incredible defensive effort against a German side ranked second in the world.  Canadian stalwart Melissa Tancredi, in her third and final Olympics, scored a brace to send her side to the quarterfinals undefeated in what was labeled the toughest group in the tournament. With five line-up changes, John Herdman rested key players throughout the group stage including Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie who would sit out today’s match.

Germany dominated the first half working hard to pull apart a compact Canadian back-line. It didn’t take long for them to cause confusion and draw a foul in the box. German midfielder Melanie Behringer would take the penalty to put her side up 1-0. Canada would reorganize quickly to stymie the German offense, with corner after corner failing to break through. On the counter attack, Melissa Trancredi tied the game in the 26th minute with a shot just out of the reach of German keeper Almuth Schult.

With the start of the second half the great defensive effort led by Stephanie Labbe and Josee Belanger of Canada continued as they shut down a barrage of German attacks. In fact the Canadians only had two shots in the second half, luckily they only needed one. Off of a free kick by Rebecca Quinn, it would be Trancredi who rose above the chaos to head it in for her her second of the night. In an impressive showing on both sides of the field, “Tank” Tancredi validated her nickname by scoring both goals surrounded by Germans. The Canadians once again look like true medal contenders.

Quarterfinal matches begin this Friday August 12th.