ATHENS (CP) - The Canadian women's water polo team pulled off a stunning comeback against world champion U.S. at the Olympic Games on Wednesday, scoring five straight goals in the final quarter to beat the Americans 6-5.
Canada (1-1) faces Hungary on Friday in Group B and has a shot at winning its group, which would give the a team a bye to the semifinals.
Johanne Begin of St.-Foy, Que., scored the winning goal with 50 seconds left and 19-year-old goaltender Rachel Riddell of West Vancouver, B.C., made a key save with 30 seconds remaining.
``I didn't even see it,'' Begin said of her winner. ``I shoot the ball. I don't know where I goes. It gets in the net. It's a big feeling, the goal, but I think it was the coming back from everybody that was bigger than my goal.''
Begin scored three goals while Canadian captain Ann Dow of Montreal added a pair as the Canadians rallied from 5-1 down in the last period. Cora Campbell of Calgary had Canada's other goal.
American Kelly Rulon ended a scoreless opening 13 minutes with a long-range goal to give her team a 1-0 halftime lead.
The Americans, silver medallists in Sydney, led 4-0 on goals from Margaret Dingeldein, Ericka Lorenz and Robin Beauregard until five seconds from three-quarter time, when Begin scored her first.
U.S. captain Heather Moody broke out of a wrestle at centre and flipped a goal past Riddell to give the Americans a 5-1 lead, but Canada went on a five-goal run to win it.
``I can't remember losing from there, it was incredible,'' Moody said.
Coach Pat Oaten said Canada has not beaten the U.S. since 2001.