Canada scored first but it couldn't score last and that made all the difference on Monday night in Manchester.
Facing off against perennial rivals Team USA in their Olympic semifinal, Canada was undaunted.
Christine Sinclair kicked off the scoring for Canada in the 22nd minute. But that scoreline wouldn't hold up for long against a US team full of offensive talent.
The US's Megan Rapinoe tied it up early in the second half. Then the barrage came. In the 67th minute Sinclair restored Canada's lead only to see it evaporate three minutes later when Rapinoe scored her second goal of the game. Sinclair, seemingly unstoppable, would put Canada ahead 3-2 in the 73rd minute.
It wouldn't be enough. US pressure and some suspect refereeing gave Abby Wambach, the US striker, a penalty kick. She did not miss and the two teams headed into extra time.
The teams played a chippy half-hour of sudden death soccer. In the end it was a perfectly-placed header from Alex Morgan in the dying moments of stoppage time that lifted the US above Canada 4-3.
Canada will play France for the Bronze on Thursday at 8 am ET, 1 pm local time. The United States will get a chance to avenge their 2011 World Cup loss when they face Japan for the gold medal later on Thursday.
Women's Olympic Football: Canada Vs. U.S
----
UPDATE: Canada will play for bronze against France after falling 4-3 to the United States in overtime. The match will take place Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012.
UPDATE: Japan, defending Women's World Cup champions, have defeated France 2-1 in their semifinal match.
Team Canada upset host nation Great Britain on Friday to set-up a semifinal match-up against defending Olympic champions Team USA on Monday.
The U.S. are one of the best teams in the world and will be a formidable opponent for the upstart Canadians. The Canadians have only ever beaten the Americans three times in international competition but their performance in London has surprised many.
Look for Christine Sinclair for Canada and Abby Wambach for the U.S. to be difference makers for both teams. Canada's defence showed its mettle on Friday and denied the British squad chances in the second half of that game. They'll have to repeat that performance against a fierce U.S. offence.
This page will be updated with the results of the Canada vs. US semifinal matchup in women's soccer. The game will be played on Monday, Aug. 6 at 2:45 ET. We will also be live blogging the match.
Also on HuffPost
