Canada reach Olympic quarter-finals despite six-point deduction

PARIS :Defending champions Canada reached the quarter-finals of the women's Olympic football tournament on Wednesday thanks to a 1-0 win over Colombia in Nice hours after they had an appeal against their six-point deduction dismissed.

Colombia also booked their spot in the knockouts on Wednesday, along with France, Germany, Japan and Brazil, but Australia missed out.

Wednesday's results set up some tantalising last-eight ties with Canada taking on Germany, the U.S. playing Japan, Spain facing Colombia and France playing Brazil, with the quarter-finals being held on Saturday.

Canada were docked points following a drone spying scandal that led to the suspension of coach Bev Priestman and other staff members and their appeal against the FIFA sanction was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier in the day.

With the top two teams in each of the three groups advancing, along with two best third-placed sides, Canada now led by assistant coach Andy Spence, needed maximum points against Colombia to progress from Group A.

After wins against New Zealand and hosts France, Vanessa Gilles's 61st-minute goal against Colombia following a set piece was enough to send them into the knockouts after finishing second in the standings with three points.

Despite the defeat, Colombia reached their first-ever Olympic quarter-final after finishing as one of the best third-placed sides.

France advanced with a 2-1 win over New Zealand in Lyon courtesy of Marie-Antoinette Katoto's double to finish as Group A winners.

Katoto opened the scoring with a header in the 22nd minute before New Zealand levelled with a fine Kate Taylor volley three minutes before the break.

Katoto, however, netted her second five minutes after the restart to become