Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa scored and set up Jonathan Calleri’s victor as 10-man Argentina got their challenge for a third Olympic gold back on track with a 2-1 win over Algeria in Rio. Fans in the stadium Sunday night yelled, “Marta, Marta”, a reference to the women’s team’s star player.
Advertisement
After netting the U.S. opener in a 2-0 win against New Zealand Wednesday, she slotted home the only goal in Belo Horizonte after Tobin Heath’s initial effort came back off the post. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo, in her 200th worldwide match, was once again roundly booed by the crowd because of her comments on the Zika virus.
Marta is 30 but time seems to have dimmed none of her pace, power, skill and technique to set up and score goals. Brazil’s fate will be decided on Wednesday, August 10, when they take on Group A leaders Denmark in Salvador.
Brazil’s Neymar reacts at the end of a group A match of the men’s Olympic football tournament between Brazil and Iraq at the National Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
“We didn’t manage to play our football”, said Brazil coach Rogerio Micale, who apologised to the expectant Brazilian public.
“Unfortunately, we had many chances but didn’t score, though our tactics were good”.
Brazil, ranked eighth in the world, opened the scoring through Beatriz after 21 minutes when she ran through on goal, outmuscled a defender and poked the ball home.
RIO DE JANEIRO-The Olympic Games have exposed plenty of problems afflicting Brazil, from unreliable infrastructure to fears over mosquito-borne diseases.
Brazil must hate playing football in their own country.
But the Portuguese were level by half-time as Tobias Figueiredo scored in the 21st minute and the victor came in the 36th off the boot of Goncalo Paciencia with an assist to Salvador Agra to book their team’s spot in the quarterfinals.
Marta and Beatriz netted another goal apiece in the second half, with Sweden’s consolation goal coming from Lotta Schelin.
Iraq built a solid defense system just as what South Africa did in the first round.
Canada are also through to the knockout stages after sealing their second win in as many games against tournament debutants Zimbabwe 3-1 in Sao Paulo.
Marta has scored 104 goals in 105 global appearances.
The women’s team bombed out at the first round at the London Olympic Games in 2012 as well.
Janine Beckie got two of Canada’s three goals in a first-half spree before Mavis Chirandu grabbed a consolation goal with four minutes remaining.
Germany lie in third place in Group C, two points behind Mexico and South Korea.
Advertisement
This post was syndicated from The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria.
