RIO DE JANEIRO — The Canadian women’s soccer team took only 20 seconds to make a mark on the Rio de Janeiro Games by scoring the fastest goal ever at the Olympics.
Janine Beckie’s record-breaking goal in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Australia on Wednesday was nine seconds faster than Oribe Peralta’s strike for Mexico in the men’s gold medal match against Brazil four years ago in London.
Beckie, 21, starred at Valor Christian and was the 2012 Gatorade Colorado girls soccer player of the year, after scoring 24 goals and adding 17 assists for the Eagles.
In Sao Paolo, Canada had to cope from the 19th minute with only 10 women after Shelina Zadorsky was sent off for dragging down Michelle Heyman on her way to goal.
But Canada still prevented Australia from equalizing and captain Christine Sinclair added a second in the 78th.
The Denver Post contributed to this story.
