Jessie Fleming, Canada earn first Olympic gold in women’s soccer

The former Bruin’s performance and game-tying penalty helped bring her country to a gold medal victory

Jessie Fleming stepped up to the spot and scored.

Again.

Last time she did it, Fleming sent her squad to the finals. This time, she made history.

Fleming cemented her name in the Olympic history books Friday night in Tokyo, as the UCLA women’s soccer alumna scored a game-tying goal in Canada’s eventual gold medal match victory over Sweden. The Canadians will be taking home gold for the first time in their country’s history, and it was Fleming who played the role of lead woman with her four penalty kick goals throughout the tournament.

The match wound up going to a penalty shootout, but Fleming’s heroics and the overall play in regulation was just as captivating as the ending.

In the 34th minute, Sweden took a 1-0 lead over Canada when passing mistakes in the Canadians' own half allowed the Sweedish striker Stina Blackstenius to slot one into the middle of the net, past Fleming’s teammate in goal – Stephanie Labbe. 

The early blow in the first half sent the Canucks into the locker room down by one as they game planned for a response to jump back into the match.

As Fleming and her teammates entered the second half, that response was found in the form of a foul and VAR confirmation once again.

The Chelsea midfielder scored against the United States after a VAR review confirmed a penalty in Monday’s semifinals, allowing her to convert on a penalty kick and put her team ahead by one late in the second half. But rather than putting Canada ahead again Friday, Fleming was instead in the position to tie things up. 

In the 67th minute, the referee confirmed the penalty kick and Fleming took her chance in dramatic fashion.

The goalkeeper dove to the right – where Fleming’s shot against Team USA went earlier in the week – but the strike of the Canadian Bruin curled into the bottom left corner, sending herself and the entire national team into a frenzy.

From that moment through extra time, the match remained scoreless and tense in nature. Attacking opportunities presented itself for both sides, but nothing resulted in victory. The match headed to a penalty shootout.

Sweden hit the post with their first attempt, giving Fleming the opportunity to put her team up 1-0 after the first round of spot kicks.

In almost identical fashion to her prior attempt, the goalkeeper went to the right as Fleming tucked the go-ahead penalty into the bottom left corner.

The tides shifted as Sweden scored two penalties and Canada missed two of their own, essentially making Fleming’s score null, but heroics from the Canadian goalkeeper Labbe provided them enough room to finish the match off.

Three saves from Labbe and two successful penalties from Canada sent Fleming running around the pitch in celebration.

Fleming already had blue and gold in her blood after four seasons in Westwood. Now, that gold will shine a little brighter, and she’ll get to share it with her home country for the rest of her life.

Congratulations, @CanadaSoccerEN @TeamCanada and our #UCLAOlympian gold medalist Jessie Fleming! 🇨🇦🥇 pic.twitter.com/v4b41vni1F

— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) August 6, 2021

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