After such electrifying group stage performances, Hope Powell's team never got to grips with their quarter-final as Canada secured a deserved win and a trip to Old Trafford to meet the United States on Monday.
Jonelle Filingo and Christine Sinclair got the first-half goals and, in truth, it should have been more.
Abby Wambach's fourth goal of the tournament helped to fire the United States to a 2-0 victory over New Zealand to earn a place in the Olympic semi-finals..
The 32-year-old striker turned home Alex Morgan's 27th-minute cross to give her side the advantage in a game they controlled but failed to kill off until substitute Sydney Leroux made sure at the death.
Last year's beaten World Cup finalists won with something to spare and will head into their semi-final at Old Trafford on Monday with hopes of a third successive gold medal very much alive.
France progressed to the semi-finals in their first ever appearance in the Olympic women's football tournament with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sweden at Hampden Park.
Nilla Fischer had given the Swedes the lead on 17 minutes as Marie Hammarstrom's corner deflected off her shoulder into the corner of the net but France were level 11 minutes later when Laura Georges headed home at the back post from another corner.
Wendie Renard then hammered the French ahead seven minutes before half-time but Bruno Bini's side were grateful to goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi as she produced a brilliant one-handed save from Fischer to ensure the game didn't go to extra-time.
Japan remain on course to add Olympic gold to last year's World Cup triumph after clinically seeing off Brazil 2-0 in their quarter-final at the Millennium Stadium.
Brazil dominated the early stages but were rocked when Yuki Ogimi gave Japan a 27th minute lead.
The Samba Queens desperately sought an equaliser after the interval but were caught short by a rapid counter-attack which allowed Shinobu Ohno to seal Japan's win and set up a semi-final meeting with France.
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