Canada vs. New Zealand final score, result: Evelyne Viens' strike lifts Les Rouges past Ferns in Olympic opener

The Canada women's soccer team's quest for a second straight Olympic gold medal kicked off in earnest Thursday.

Les Rouges outlasted a resolute New Zealand side, 2-1, rallying back after a stunning Mackenzie Barry strike gave the Ferns an early lead.

After a hectic pre-match buildup which featured, among other things, two members of Canada's backroom staff being ousted for attempting to use a drone to surveil New Zealand's training sessions, the onus was on Les Rouges to silence their doubters.

Those doubts became all the more glaring following Barry's finish. However, they soon found their footing, spearheaded by Ashley Lawrence, Adriana Leon and Kadeisha Buchanan.

Lawrence looked like a force on the flank, slaloming past her marker with aplomb and whipping in delicate crosses when the opportunity arose. Her good work paid off just before the halftime break when she connected with Nichelle Prince, who sent a one-touch flick into Cloe Lacasse's path. Lacasse finished off her attempt in style, sweeping it into the top corner to level things at one.

The second half represented more one-way traffic for Canada, which set up shop deep in the Ferns' half. It was rewarded for its rampant pressure with another eye-catching finish, this one coming from Evelyne Viens, who connected with Jessie Fleming's inch-perfect through pass to slip it past New Zealand goalkeeper Anna Leat and give the Canadians a much-deserved victory.

Les Rouges are certainly one of the favorites to take home this year's Olympic crown. They proved as much on Thursday, flexing their might against a Ferns side that could do little to quell their vigor.

Canada vs. New Zealand live score

Kickoff: 5 p.m. local (11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT)
Location: Stade Geoffroy-Guillard (Saint-Etienne, France)

Starting lineups:

Canada (3-4-3, right to left): Sheridan (GK) — Gilles, J. Rose, Buchanan — Lawrence, Fleming, Quinn (Awujo 67'), Carle (Vienes 67') —Prince (Beckie 57'), Leon, Lacasse (Huitema 57').

New Zealand (4-4-2, right to left): Leat (GK) — Bott, Bowen, Stott, A. Riley — Jale, Steinmetz (Fraser 59'), Kitching, Foster — I-P. Riley, Clegg (Hand 68').

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Canada vs. New Zealand live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympics women's soccer

END OF REGULATION: Canada 2, New Zealand 1

Evelyne Viens' slick first-time finish does the trick as the Canadians ward off a resolute New Zealand bunch to capture a 2-1 win. It wasn't easy for Les Rouges, who were pegged back by a stunning Mackenzie Barry finish after 13 minutes. Fueled by strong showings by Ashley Lawrence, Kadeisha Buchanan and Jessie Fleming — as well as impressive strikes by Viens and Cloe Lacasse — its Canada that walks home worthy winners. 

90th minute (+8): Fraser looks in a bad way at the moment. Went down after appearing to suffer a non-contact ankle injury. She's in tears as she leaves the pitch. New Zealand is out of substitutions, so it will be forced to finish the match with 10 players instead of 11.

90th minute: (+5): Viens had a chance to put the game away. However, she fires her shot straight at Leat.

90th minute (+3): A bit of gamesmanship from the Canadian side as Leon departs to warm applause. She's replaced by Sheila Zadorsky.

90th minute: A whopping eight minutes of stoppage time. Plenty of opportunities for New Zealand to get back into the game, surely.

86th minute: A tame effort from Kitching soars well-high of Sheridan's cage. The Ferns midfielder had to do better there.

85th minute: New Zealand gets a free kick on the edge of the box after Indiah-Paige Riley is hacked down by Buchanan. Could this be a chance?

79th minute: GOAL! CANADA! Les Rouges finally finds their go-ahead marker. It comes from Viens, who finds a gap in the back line to make a run. Canadian captain Fleming finds her surging with a wonderful through pass which put Viens into a one-on-one with Leat.

The find from Fleming, the one touch finish from Viens. THAT is a goal. pic.twitter.com/lTVexWfKRY

— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) July 25, 2024

Viens finished with aplomb, slotting her effort right into the bottom corner. It's what the Canadians deserve for their showcase thus far.

Canada 2, New Zealand 1

78th minute: New Zealand's defense has been resolute in the second half, getting in the way of shots even in cases when the Canadians create numerical advantage in the final third. The Ferns don't have much for Les Rouges in the way of attacking threat, however.

76th minute: Plenty of changes across both lineups, with Les Rouges calling on the services of Simi Awujo and Evelyne Viens in midfield. The Ferns responded with a flourish of their own, swapping Clegg for lanky striker Jacqui Hand.

73rd minute: The opportunities continue to fall Canada's way. Lawrence corrals a skipping ball at the edge of the box and rifles a left-footed attempt towards goal. However, it ripples the side netting.

70th minute: Beckie takes aim from long-distance. However, her attempt falls calmly. into Leat's hands.

60th minute: Brilliant save from Leat, who dives low to deflect Quinn's guided header away from the bottom corner. Canada's pressure continues.

59th minute: Substitutions beginning to stream onto the pitch, as Janine Beckie and Jordyn Huitema replacing Prince and Lacasse. As for the Ferns, Steinmetz sees her game come to an end, with Macey Fraser taking her place.

52nd minute: Leon fooled everyone — even the pro-Canadian masses in the stands — with her strike into the side-netting .

2nd half kickoff: Back underway from Saint Etienne, with New Zealand starting proceedings from the center circle. Will be interesting to see if the Ferns can quell the Canadians' attacking vigor on one end of the pitch — and threaten Les Rouges' cage on the other end of the pitch.

HALFTIME: New Zealand 1, Canada 1

New Zealand struck first with an impressive finish from Mackenzie Barry and looked in control for a good while. However, the Canadians asserted their dominance over the final 15 or so minutes, capitalizing on increased pressure with a Cloe Lacasse goal at the death. Ashley Lawrence hb

45th minute (+5): GOAL! CANADA! Les Rouges finally find their equalizer and it comes from sumptuous play across the right flank. Lawrence has been a delight thus far and she plays a prominent role in the finish, finding Prince with a first-time effort. Prince responded in kind, flicking the ball to an onrushing Lacasse, who beats Leat and her markers and whips the ball into the top corner.

Lacasse scores the equalizer for Canada right before the half time whistle.

First time Olympian is getting straight to work in her Olympic debut. pic.twitter.com/OG9Upyi2aT

— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) July 25, 2024

New Zealand 1, Canada 1

45th minute (+4): The chances continue to accumulate for the Canadians, as Lacasse fires wide in an attempt to find Quinn. 

45th minute: Lawrence came to life around the box, evading her markers, including Steinmetz. She then fired a delightful left-footed cross into the box, one which Prince eventually got her foot on. However, the ball spurned the net. That looked to be the best chance of the game for Les Rouges thus far.

44th minute: Carle fashions out another half-chance, slipping a cross in between the defense and Leat and towards an oncoming Leon. However, Leat is equal to her effort.

41st minute: The Canadians appear to be attempting some sort of tactical switch, with Lawrence getting more central, ostensibly to get more involved in build-up play.  Kadeisha Buchanan also pushing forward from the back, offering another option as Les Rouges look to find an equalizer.

36th minute: Leat called into action as Lawrence fires a tame effort towards her near post. The Ferns goalkeeper gobbles the ball up and sends it down the pitch to relieve pressure.

34th minute: Canada really starting to impose its might on New Zealand here. Quick passing is opening up craters in the Ferns' defense. They're only getting more evident amid a slew of poor clearances.

26th minute: Anna Leat has been confident in her goalkeeping duties thus far. Her play with her feet has been suspect, however. Nearly cost her team a score after sending her goal kick into Leon. Her second shaky moment of the contest.

22nd minute: After a brief period of uncertainty, it seems New Zealand has really settled into today's game. The Ferns' defense has been fairly impenetrable since their goal — save for a moment when they needed to rely on a pair of last-ditch tackles to deny Prince of a potential shot on target.

13th minute: GOAL! NEW ZEALAND! Sensational strike by Mackenzie Barry, who takes a sumptuous touch, swivels around and sends a rocket into the top corner. The Ferns hadn't had much of a sniff for the opening 10 or so minutes. But with Barry's finish, they find themselves out in front.

AIKZDJNLIUEZHFDIPUZE MAIS TOUT VA BIEN DANS MA VIE D'UN COUP pic.twitter.com/5i9693c3jH

— Zert3n (@Turfu_Zert3n) July 25, 2024

New Zealand 1, Canada 0

11th minute: Some more promising play from Les Rouges, as Canada moves the ball from left to right swiftly. Quinn drilled a pass over to Lawrence, who proceeded to take her defender on before sending a cross into the box. Unfortunately for her, her effort caromed off her marker, falling harmlessly into the hands of goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

7th minute: Canada has definitely been the more daunting side in attack thus far. Gabrielle Carle linked up with Cloe Lacasse to set up a corner kick. Adriana Leon's subsequent delivery was headed away, however.

KICKOFF: Canada kicks the ball off and competition has commenced from Stade Geoffroy-Guillard, the home of Saint Etienne. Quick start for Les Rouges, as Ashley Lawrence drives down the right flank before whipping a ball across the eight-yard box. It spurned her teammates, however, as the chance goes wanting.

Canada vs. New Zealand: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

10 minutes to kickoff: The teams are out on the field. Canada will be sporting its bright red kits, while the Ferns will be outfitted in white.

30 minutes to kickoff: Big opportunity for the youngster Clegg, who is now participating in her fourth major international tournament in two years. Her eye-catching run and finish against Japan certainly enlivened Kiwis across the country. Now, the Racing Louisville product looks to set the world's stage alight, 32 years after her mother did so with New Zealand field hockey.

45 minutes to kickoff: Both teams have revealed their starting lineups. For the Canadians, they'll go into their matchup with an attacking trident of Nichelle Price, Adriana Leon and Cloe Lacasse. New Zealand's starting XI will feature 18-year old Milly Clegg, who slotted her first international goal in New Zealand's 4-1 defeat to Japan prior to Olympic play.

1 hour to kickoff: In the matter of hours, Canada's women's soccer program has been thrown into disarray, all of its own doing. Les Rouges will be without manager Bev Priestman after an accredited member of Canada's support staff reporting to an assistant coach was found to be flying a drone over New Zealand's practice, ostensibly in an effort to get trade secrets on Canada's opening match opposition.

Priestman told reporters she was unaware of the actions being taken by members of her personnel. Both staff members — assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Canada Soccer analyst Joseph Lombardi — were sent home.

“By no means did I direct the individuals,” Priestman said. “I’m still learning the details, and obviously, this is all unfolding. But again, I think the important thing right now is to look forward, put the actions in place and take the sanctions.”

Priestman revealed she opted to step aside "with the interests of both teams in mind and to ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld.” Assistant coach Andy Spence will lead the troops on Thursday.

MORE: Canada women's soccer's drone controversy, explained

Canada vs. New Zealand kickoff time

This Olympic group stage match kicks off from the Allianz Riviera on Thursday, July 25 at 9 p.m. local time in Nice, France. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

2024 Olympics Group B standings

Canada vs. New Zealand lineups, team news, starting 11

Christine Sinclair's retirement creates a void at the top of the pitch for Bev Priestman's side. Fortunately for the Canada manager, they have a handful of goal-scoring options littered across the pitch.

Deanne Rose could play a role, although her struggles for Leicester City are certain to give some Canadian fans pause. No matter, however; the defending Olympic champions are teeming with prolific options in the midfield, including Juventus standout Julia Grosso and Portland Thorns star Jessie Fleming. Assuming Priestman opts for the 3-4-3 she sported throughout the SheBelieves Cup, Chelsea star Ashley Lawrence could also prove vital; she can slot in seamlessly in defense, midfield or attack if needed.

Canada starting lineup (3-4-3): Sheridan (GK) — Gilles, J. Rose, Buchanan — Lawrence, Fleming, Quinn, Carle — Beckie, Leon, Smith.

Canada subs (7): D'Angelo (GK), Awujo, Beckie, Grosso, Huitema, Viens, Zadorsky

New Zealand will be without experienced forward Hannah Wilkinson, who was left off the roster in favor of younger talent.

Jacqui Hand and Grace Jale are the current squad's most prolific goal-scorers at the international level, tallying eight and nine goals in their senior careers, respectively. The Ferns will need steady contributions from both if they hope to make their way out of their daunting group.

Special mention for young forward Milly Clegg, who joined NWSL side Racing Louisville in January. She's yet to make an appearance with the team. She did net her first international goal, however, firing one past WE League standout Ayaka Yamashita in  New Zealand's last game, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Japan. 

New Zealand projected starting lineup (4-4-2): Leat (GK) — Bott, Bowen, Stott, A. Riley — Jale, Steinmetz, Kitching, Foster — I-P. Riley, Clegg.

New Zealand subs (7): Esson (GK), Green, Foster, Fraser, Hand, Moore, Rennie

Canada vs. New Zealand live stream, TV channel