PARIS, July 31 (Xinhua) — Defending champions Canada survived a six-point deduction to advance to the women’s football quarterfinals at Paris 2024 after beating Colombia 1-0 on Wednesday.
Canada, deducted six points for their involvment in a drone spying scandal, needed to see off Colombia in their final group game after having won the first two against New Zealand and France.
Defender Vanessa Gilles scored the only goal in the 61st minute for Canada.
With the win, Canada finished second with three points in Group A behind France, who beat New Zealand 2-1 in Wednesday’s other group game.
In the quarterfinals, France will play Brazil, while Canada take on Germany.
Spain, who finished top of Group C, will meet Colombia in the final eight. The Group B winners, the United States, will take on Japan, in an encounter between two former World Cup winners.
