Despite beating the European champions a week ago to top their group, Canada were beaten by the same team in Belo Horizonte as for the second successive Olympics they were eliminated at the semi-final stage. Germany progress to their first-ever Gold Medal Match where they will meet Sweden in a repeat of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.

The first chance of the game came in the 11th minute. Jessie Fleming’s raking cross-field pass bounced all the way through to Ashley Lawrence racing down the left, she crossed to the back post where Janine Beckie headed inches wide and into the side-netting. Nine minutes later, Canada were made to pay when Anya Mittag released the newly-crowned German player of the year, Alexandra Popp. Running away from goal, there was no need for Tadeisha Buchanan to dive in, but she did, Popp went over and Melanie Behringer, the match-winner in the quarter-final smashed the penalty down the middle of the goal past Stephanie Labbé.

It took Canada until the 34th minute to fashion another chance, Beckie this time crossing for Lawrence who’s long range shot was easily dealt with by Almuth Schult. The goalkeeper was then quickly off her line to clear with her feet from Sophie Schmidt as the striker attempted to feed off a Christine Sinclair flick-on but she was helpless in the final minute of the first half as Buchanan forcefully headed Beckie’s right-wing corner past her but Tabea Kemme cleared off the line.

Germany brought on Lena Goessling for the anonymous Dzsenifer Marozsán’ at half-time and almost doubled their lead in the 56th minute when the two-footed Behringer this time struck in a free kick with her left. Melanie Leupolz flicked it on past Labbé but narrowly wide of the far post. A minute later, Behringer was dispossessed facing her own goal by Sophie Schmidt, Melissa Tancredi released Beckie who side-footed wide.

Again Beckie and Canada were made to pay for their profligacy as Leupolz started the move which led to another goal. Her crossfield pass was touched on by Mittag and Sara Däbritz, cut in from the left to steer the ball in with her weaker right foot past Labbé at her near post.

Canadian captain, Christine Sinclair tried to bulldoze her way through the German defence in the 67th minute but after hurdling two challenges her shot was weak and easily tipped around by Schult. The keeper then reacted superbly ten minutes later to deflect Diana Matheson’s fierce cross-shot away with her right forearm. Despite Labbé playing up front for the final few minutes, Canada were not to come as close again. Germany, two-times world champions and eight- times European champions, are now one match away from winning the one title that has so far eluded them in the stadium where their men’s team won the World Cup 25 months ago.