‘Spygate’ on hold as Canada bests New Zealand in Olympic opener – Ajax striker sets up tying goal

Canada’s women’s national soccer team couldn’t have planned for a worse start to their defence of the gold medal they won in Tokyo three years ago, with a member of the support staff and an assistant coach sent home from the Paris Olympics for using drones to spy on the New Zealand squad prior to the opening match.

They’ll certainly take the 2-1 victory on Thursday over those same New Zealanders, however.

Head coach Bev Priestman, who professed no knowledge of the skullduggery, voluntary suspended herself for Thursday’s match against the Football Ferns amid demands for her resignation, while social media channels were in full throat with cries of “embarrassment.”

Perhaps all the stress had an impact on the Canadian players in the opening match, with New Zealand taking an early lead after Katie Bowen’s ball slipped past the hands of Whitby’s Kailen Sheridan in the 13th minute.

Canada looked a bit lost in the early going and struggled on the attack but the team assembled by interim coach Andy Spence began to string opportunities together as the first half wore on.

Nichelle Prince of Ajax showed plenty of speed on the wing and a shot in the 44th minute just sailed over the crossbar, and Canada finally broke through three minutes into added time when Cloe Lacasse finished off a tick-tac-toe of dazzling passes between Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence and Prince to draw even.

Despite the slow start Canada outshot New Zealand 6-1 at the break and maintained 60 per cent of possession and the women stepped up the pressure in the second half, with the winner coming in the 79th minute when substitute Evelyn Viens finished off a perfect long ball from Fleming by curling it into the far corner.

Next up for Canada is Sunday’s match against world #2 France, with Priestman expected back on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, ‘Spygate’ is not over as FIFA said Wednesday its disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against Canada Soccer and three members of the women’s team’s staff.

At least Canada has a win in the books. Anything else is out of the players’ control.

Whitby’s Kailen Sheridan (#1) with teammates during the singing of the national anthem in Paris Thursday