This Day in Football from 6-12 August

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 6 August 1984
Canada draws 1:1 with Brazil, but is eliminated on kicks from the penalty mark in the quarter-final phase of the 1984 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. In front of 36,150 fans at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA, Dale Mitchell scores the opening goal in the second half. Gilmar Popoca evens the score in the 72nd minute and neither team scores in extra time. Brazil advances to the semi-final stage after winning 4-2 on kicks.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 6 August 2008
Canada wins its first-ever match at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, a 2:1 win over Argentina at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The match is played in front of 23,201 fans at the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Tianjin, China PR. Candace Chapman and Kara Lang score on either side of the break before Ludmila Manicler scores late for Argentina.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 8 August 1971
Canada produces a “sensational” 3:2 win over host Colombia at the 1971 Pan American Games at Estadio Pascual Guerrero. In front of 50,000 fans, Canada gets goals from Bill Young, Frank Schepers and Buzz Parsons. After the match, referee Jose Pichardo was knocked down and kicked by Colombian team officials (the referee reportedly got up and fought back before being rescued by Colombian police).

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 9 August 1971
Down to “eight or fewer men” because of dismissals and injuries, Canada pulls even 1:1 with USA in the 1971 Pan American Games Final Round. Down 0-1, Frank Schepers scores the tying goal just two minutes from time. The match, in particular the conduct of Argentine referee Alberto De La Case, was officially protested by the Canadian team the following day.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 9 August 2008
Canada plays to a 1:1 draw with China PR at the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Tianjin. The match is played in front of 52,600 fans at the Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium, at the time the largest crowd in front of which the Canadian women have ever played. Christine Sinclair scores the opening goal in the 34th minute before Xu Yuan equalises two minutes later. Randee Hermus makes her 113th (and final) appearance for Canada.Martina Franko and Erin McLeod become the 17th and 18th players to make their 50th appearances for Canada.