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Canada scored a dramatic injury-time winner to defeat France and claim bronze in the women's Olympic football tournament

France dominated as Elodie Thomis and Gaetane Thiney hit the woodwork, while Desiree Scott cleared off the line.

Canada were completely outplayed and Corine Franco missed two late chances for the French.

But the Canucks claimed their first medal in Olympic football when Diana Matheson slotted home from 12 yards.

It was very harsh on the French, who were participating in women's football at the Games for the first time.

They missed a penalty in their 2-1 defeat by Japan in their semi-final and in Coventry on Thursday afternoon they were made to pay once again for failing to take their opportunities.

Canada were perhaps still tired and mentally drained after their dramatic extra-time defeat by the United States at Old Trafford on Monday.

And after a cagey first half, Bruno Bini's French team took control after the restart, crafting three excellent chances in as many minutes.

Erin McLeod dived brilliantly low to her left to stop Louisa Necib's deflected strike, Thiney could not quite finish a flowing move when her strike hit the foot of the post and Thomis was equally unfortunate when she guided the ball beyond the keeper but saw it hit the crossbar.

It was all one-way traffic and with 20 minutes of normal time left it took an excellent goal-line stop from midfielder Scott to clear Franco's shot off the line.

Franco and substitute Eugenie Le Sommer missed further chances for France before midfielder Matheson struck after Sophie Schmidt's shot had been blocked.