Canada has won its first-ever gold medal in the women's Olympic soccer tournament after outlasting Sweden in a penalty shootout.
Julia Grosso scored the decisive spot-kick, ending a dramatic shootout in which Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé saved consecutive Swedish attempts to give her team the chance to win it.
It was a cruel ending for the Swedes, who were the better side for much of the match but couldn't unlock a stout Canadian defence.
The Canadians were under pressure for most of the first half, and Sweden rightfully got the opener in the 35th minute through Stina Blackstenius. It was just rewards for the Blue and Yellow, who were positive from the outset and kept their opposition pinned in their own half for large stretches.
It took until well into the second half for Canada to reverse the trend, and a number of dangerous forays into the Swedish end culiminated in Christine Sinclair being upended in the penalty area by an opposition defender. The referee initially allowed play to continue, but a subsequent VAR check showed that Sinclair was fouled, leading to Jessie Fleming's 67th-minute penalty kick.
Just as she did in the semifinals against the United States, Fleming showed no emotion in stepping up to the spot and slotting home, giving the Canucks the equalizer they desperately needed.
The Canadians were buoyed by the leveller and came close to taking the lead in the ensuing moments, but eventually the match settled down and neither side could find a winner in the 90 minutes of regular time. That meant an extra 30 minutes would be required, and, aside from a scary moment in the 118th minute in which the Swedes nearly capitalized on a goalmouth scramble, the deadlock remained all the way through to the penalty shootout.
Fleming again displayed ice in her veins by converting Canada's first attempt, although her next three teammates could not replicate her feat. That put pressure on Labbé to perform, and the 'keeper managed to make the key stops needed to put her side into the winning position.
Eventually, Grosso stepped up in the sixth round of kicks to clinch the gold for the Canadians, who have now medalled in three straight Olympic Games.