PARIS: Defending champions New Zealand will face the United States in the Olympic rugby sevens semi-finals, but France's double gold medal hopes were dashed on Monday when they lost to Canada at the Stade de France.
Another 66,000 supporters turned out for a sell-out crowd at the Stade de France to watch the French team follow Antoine Dupont and the men's team to gold.
However, the result was disappointing as Canada won 19-14 to advance to the semi-finals to face Australia.
Australia crushed Ireland 40-7 in the fourth quarter, with Madison Levy scoring a hat-trick to take her Olympic women's try total to 11, breaking Portia Woodman-Wickliffe's previous record of 10 set at Rio 2016.
Canada's Piper Logan opened the scoring against France, scoring a superb individual try from a scrum that was converted by Chloe Daniels.
But the home side equalised just after half-time, helped by a raucous crowd, with Ian Jason running in to score a try.
Yolein Yengo made it and Lily Dejoux was double-tackled for a great score before she took the lead with a goal of her own.
But Logan converted her second identity kit try, this time by captain Olivia Apps, to put the Reds ahead by 14 points with three minutes left.
Daniels dashed France's hopes with an unguarded blind-side shot on Canada's third try.
New Zealand, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics that were postponed due to the coronavirus, are coming off a 55-5 win over China and will play the United States, who beat England 17-7.
They had their names on the scoreboard within 30 seconds, with veteran Sara Hirini finishing off Teresa Setefano's break.
But China fought back, with Yang Feifei gesturing down the line. When Hirini was shown a yellow card for a high-headed tackle, China used their numerical advantage to beat the stretched-out defence and score a try.
New Zealand remained undeterred, scoring eight tries without a fight.
In her third and final Olympics, Jasmine Felix-Hotham, Michellea Blythe and world rugby legend Woodman-Wickliffe hit five-pointers to make it 24-5 at halftime.
Blyde notched his seventh try of the tournament early in the second period, with Felix-Hotham, Mahina Paul (2) and Hirini each notching their fourth tries.
Australia, winners of the 2016 Rio Games, got off to a strong start against Ireland, New Zealand's Tasman Strait neighbour.
Levy scored a first-half hat-trick in a replay of the two teams' final group-stage match on Monday, which Australia won 19-14.
Faith Nathan crossed to make it 26-0 at half-time before Isabella Nasser and Vienne Terita added two more goals each, with Stacey Flood's consolation goal.
England took the lead in the semi-finals through Ellie Boatman, while the United States responded through Naya Tapper, thanks to a strong performance from TikTok star Ilona Maher.
Maher looked set to score the United States' second goal late in the first half, but a superb tackle from Jasmine Joyce brought her down.
But Christie Kirke took the American second spot early in the second half, followed by Sammy Sullivan to end Britain's medal hopes and send the Americans into the semi-finals for the first time.
In a playoff between lower-ranked teams, Brazil recorded a memorable 28-22 win over Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Fiji.
Raquel Cockhan had four tries, including the winner in added time, and was quick to come from her line to seal a ninth-place play-off spot against Japan.
