Canada women defiant after beating France: We aren't cheaters - ESPN

SAINT-ETIENNE, France — As the Canada women's soccer team improbably kept their Olympic hopes alive on Sunday, players said they wanted to let the world know one thing: the defending Gold medalists are not cheaters.

Vanessa Giles scored 12 minutes into a 13-minute stoppage time to finish off an unlikely 2-1 comeback win against host France.

That was a day after the team found out it was being docked six points by FIFA in the group stage as a result of a drone spying scandal that unfolded as the Olympics began, which severely limited their chances of advancing.

When news of the punishment dropped on Saturday night, Giles said she almost broke her hand punching a wall, that's how angry she was.

«It's been 72 hours where we have no control over anything,» Giles said. «We're not part of any of this, and we're getting sanctioned as if we just got caught doping. We did nothing. We're just so tired of defending ourselves over something we have no control over.

»We got no advantage. We go out there, we play our hearts out, we work for this all year round, day in and day out. So it's just the uncontrollables that are the biggest anger and biggest frustration."

Gilles was still wiping away tears when she met with the media post-match. Teammates described a taxing game, with Giles saying: «I never felt so many emotions going into a game, even the Gold medal final.»

Now, with wins against New Zealand and France to neutralize their group stage total to zero points, the Canadians, whose federation is planning to appeal the six-point deduction, can advance with a win over Colombia on Wednesday.

«It feels like us against the world right now,» said veteran Jesse Fleming, who scored in the 58th minute to equalize the game at 1-1. France