Deja vu for Canadian soccer women By Terry Jones, SUN MEDIA

Canada's Kara Lang and Christine Sinclair show their disappointment after being eliminated from the Olympic women's soccer competition with a 2-1 loss to the United States in Shanghai Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

SHANGHAI – It happened 1,463 kilometres away from the Olympic city, and for the longest time there it looked like Canada was going to have its greatest moment of Beijing 2008 here Friday.

But then the usual happened.

It happened twice earlier this year, the USA beating Canada in the 91st minute in the Peace Cup in Korea and then defeating them in a shootout at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament final.

This time it was in the half hour of overtime at the Olympics in what would be the last time the Canadian girls would ever play for coach Even Pellerud.

A goal 11 minutes in stood up for a 2-1 American win.

'Twas ever thus.

In 44 all-time games against the USA, Canada has only won three. The last time the Canadians scored a win over the Americans was in the 2001 Algarve Cup in Portugal.

It's certainly not that the northern girls can't give the team which has won two Olympic gold and a silver a go for it, though.

In the 12th minute, eight minutes before calling the game because of an incredible lightning storm around the stadium, the Americans struck the Canadians for a 1-0 lead.

Amy Rodriquez sent a long cross into the box that the nearest Canadian defender, Rhian Wilkinson couldn't clear.

Heather O'Reilly headed it to Angela Hucles, who chipped it by Erin McLeod from beside the far post.

The Canadian keeper was injured on the play and it was deja vu all over again for McLeod, who at the Women's World Cup here back in September suffered a concussion against Australia in a go-on or go-home game. She was replaced by Taryn Swiatek who gave up the goal in referees time, which allowed Australia to tie Canada and send the

Canadians home at the end of group play.

This time it was Karina LeBlanc who replaced her, receiving a big hug on the way to the field from McLeod who left holding her knee.

The weather delay lasted an hour and 45 minutes before they resumed play.

And while O'Reilly had a chance early, Canada started to grow into the game. One mistake, a turnover on a throw in, ended up on the foot of Christine Sinclair, who sent it to the back of the net from the top of the box.

It was her second goal of the Olympics and 95th career goal for Canada in 125 games, equalling Charmaine Hooper's record for starts in this one at 122.

While the ball was in the Canadian end most of the second half and Martina Franko and Kara Lang both took yellow cards, the Americans only had one great chance but LeBlanc stopped Hucles in close in the 71st minute.

In the final seconds of referee’s time, Rodriguez rolled one for the corner that LeBlanc dove to save.

Canada's only real chance in the second half was a Sinclair shot in the 78th. But they made it to the two 15 minute extra-time periods.

U.S. veteran Shannon Boxx sent a long cross to overtime sub Natasha Kai, who headed it home in the 11th minute of the first OT session and then proceeded to do a finger-wagging, hip-wiggling dance to put an exclamation point on it.