Canada defeats the United States women's soccer team

Water polo: USA female supremacy 1:12

(CNN) -

The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) lost by a narrow margin to Canada on Monday in the semi-finals of the Japan Olympics, ending the world champions' aspirations to the gold medal. A Jessie Fleming penalty in the second half decided the game and Canada defeated the United States for the first time in 20 years.

The US team aspired to become the first FIFA World Cup champion to win a gold medal in women's football.

"It sucks," US forward Megan Rapinoe said after Monday's loss.

"Obviously, you never want to lose. You never want to lose in a world championship, you never want to lose to Canada, obviously, and you never want to lose playing like we did."

"Every player in the locker room has 100 things that we wish we had done better, and that's the most frustrating thing for all of us. It's sad because these things happen only from time to time. It's hard to digest."

With Canada's victory, their midfielder Quinn, an openly transgender and non-binary athlete, is guaranteed a medal at the Olympics.

• The historic participation of Laurel Hubbard, the first transgender woman in the Olympic Games

Canada will face Sweden in Friday's gold medal match, after the European team clinched a 1-0 win over Australia on Monday.

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The front Fridolina Rolfo scored the winning goal 46 minutes into the match and sent to Sweden to his second consecutive final.

Five years ago, at the Rio Games, Sweden was defeated in the final by Germany (2-1).

Kelley O'Hara, left, talks to teammate Lindsey Horan after the defeat of the American team.

August 2, 2021, in Kashima, Japan.

Credits: AP Photo / Andre Penner

'You pass here and there'

"Soccer always needs joy, when the game really plays out at its best, you have it. I feel like we weren't able to do it," added Rapinoe as she reflected on the defeat of the US team.

"Everything has cost us a bit, you come here and there. I hope we find it, I love playing with a big smile on my face, I think everyone else too."

"We have a lot to play for, there is a medal at stake and that means everything, no matter what color it is," added Rapinoe, referring to Thursday's bronze medal match against Australia.

"I think (the players) we have to analyze ourselves and we have to give a better result, period," he added.

"We don't have the juice because the ball is hitting our shins, and we are not finding open passes, we are not doing simple things."

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"We can dig into the analysis, but there is all the preparation and analysis that you can do and all the tactics ... and then there is everything else."

"You can't name everything else, but that's what we were missing. It's just the doing of the players, and the players know it.

"We will recover from this, and this will make each of the players in the locker room better."

Women's soccer