The two nations also met in the first match of the 2012 London Olympics where South Africa lost 4-1.
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At the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, site of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the World Cup semifinal two years ago, the USA women’s team opened its bid for a fourth straight gold medal with a 2-0 win over New Zealand.
Olympic Games up and running as Sweden claim narrow victory over South Africa in women’s football tournament Nilla Fischer claimed the first goal of the Olympic football tournament on Wednesday afternoon (3 August) as Sweden defeated South Africa 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
But it has been no easy road and the women’s game in Africa continues to struggle for acceptance. Despite the disparity in world ranking – South Africa is ranked 52nd in the world while Sweden is ranked sixth – South Africa made it hard for the Swedes. “It really, really is”.
South Africa began to find some footing in the game in the second half, gaining more possession and creating offense through the counter attack. “They used to give us shirts with the men’s player’s names on the back and hand-me-down track suits”.
Traditional societal attitudes also discouraged women from playing and even when those attitudes softened, there were other obstacles, she said.
“It’s still tough. Parents did not want girls to play football because there was no future in the game”.
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South Africa have yet to qualify for a Women’s World Cup. It was nine seconds faster than Oribe Peralta’s strike for Mexico in the men’s gold medal match against Brazil four years ago in London. “We are absolutely convinced Rio will do the same”.
