ST-ETIENNE — Defending champions Canada defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their Paris Olympics opening game on Thursday overshadowed by a spying scandal that has engulfed the women's tournament.
Cloe Lacasse and Evelyne Viens scored on a night that might have been a routine group win for Canada before it was thrust into the global spotlight due to a scandal that saw manager Bev Priestman sit out Thursday's game and two staff members sent home amid allegations of drone use at two New Zealand practices.
Canada Soccer in hot water after a “non-accredited” member of team staff detained by French police after flying a drone over a field where New Zealand’s team was practicing. pic.twitter.com/VNOf9E0SRM
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) July 23, 2024
Assistant Andy Spence acted as coach, while Priestman, who had removed herself from the game after New Zealand's complaint, watched it from the team hotel.
The full fall-out from the scandal is yet to be known, as Canada Soccer has launched an independent external review into the matter while global soccer's governing body FIFA has begun disciplinary proceedings.
Joseph Lombardi, one of the staff members sent home, was handed an eight-month suspended jail term and his material was confiscated, a French court said.
New Zealand coach Indiah-Page Riley, meanwhile, said the scandal "lit a fire in our bellies."
Mackenzie Barry shocked the Canadians by opening the scoring with a goal in the 13th minute when she fired home off the underside of the crossbar after Katie Kitching's corner.
¡GOLAZOOOO DE NUEVA ZELANDA! ⚽
Al 13', Barry, de media vuelta la manda al fondo y abre el marcador para las 'Kiwis'.#Canadá 0-1 #NuevaZelandaPeacock ➡️ https://t.co/JReWHWXOcN
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/IPaZQcjs8K#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/VpRuJ01yft— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 25, 2024
But Canada proved too strong for the women's soccer minnows, whose best Olympic finish was a quarter-final appearance in 2012, and Lacasse levelled in first-half added time, stabbing home from close-range after some exquisite passing.
¡GOOOL DE CANADÁ!
45'. En tiempo de compensación, Cloé Lacasse anota para las canadienses e iguala el encuentro.#Canadá 1-1 #NuevaZelandaPeacock ➡️ https://t.co/JReWHWYm2l
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/IPaZQcjZYi#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/0okgoc4EVv— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 25, 2024
Viens netted the winner in the 79th minute in front of a sparse crowd at Geoffrey-Guichard Stadium, when she ran onto a pinpoint long pass from Jessie Fleming and fired first-time into the far corner from a tight angle.
¡GOOOOOOL DE CANADÁ! ⚽️
Con un disparo cruzado, Evelyne Viens le da la vuelta al partido al 79'.#Canadá 2-1 #NuevaZelandaPeacock ➡️ https://t.co/JReWHWXOcN
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/IPaZQcjs8K#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/BTLUlQ9GSG— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 25, 2024
France and Colombia were playing in Thursday's late Group A match, while Spain beat Japan 2-1 in their Group C opener.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)