Canada wins Olympic gold in women’s soccer

She's led them to victory before, but even for stalwart Christine Sinclair, this was a first. Wearing Canadian red on the grandest Olympic stage, the country's biggest ever soccer game played with a nation cheering from afar, but hardly anyone able to watch in person. The powerhouse Swedes struck first, looking dangerous, the ball in the middle, taking an early lead by getting a rare shot past Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie LeBay. In the second half it was Sinclair, a playmaker in every way, drawing a foul to pave the way for this. I knew on our day that we could we could push as far as we could and today the players just proved that you know this group will run through a brick wall for their country. For a game moved to the night time to avoid extreme heat and humidity, it still sure felt like a sauna in there, making it all the more grueling to endure 90 minutes of regulation than another 30 minutes of extra time without a winner. And so to a penalty shootout they went. Kick after kick, again neither team could overcome the other. Canada teetering on the brink with LeBay making key saves to keep them alive. Then it came to this. Julia Grosso from Vancouver to win it. Sudden death and the shot of a lifetime. It's crazy because we work so hard for one another and so just to do it, just like all the hard work has paid off. The Swedes left stunned, thanks in no small part to the leadership of Canada's captain, playing her 303rd international game for the country. There's a group of vets on this team that has been through a lot. You know, we've both on the field, off the field. We're going to be best friends forever. Team Canada came to this tournament with two past Olympic bronze medals, but they pledged to change the color this time. Few would have expected this color. A gold medal ceremony that represents more than a win, but perhaps a new era for soccer in Canada. Thomas Daigle, CBC News, Yokohama, Japan.