Sweden ended a disconsolate Marta’s dreams of guiding Brazil’s women to a first Olympic football gold medal with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win to set up a final with Germany. She was voted world player of the year five times in a row between 2006 and 2010.
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The Swedes had previously progressed through the quarter-finals in similar fashion, frustrating the United States before winning on penalties.
Having already toppled the three-time defending champion US, also on penalties, the Swedish women followed the same defensive strategy that led American goalkeeper Hope Solo to label them “cowards”. But she has never won a major worldwide tournament with her country.
“There is no way to describe the feeling of frustration”, said Brazil coach Vadao. The winners will now take on Germany in the gold-medal match. Brazil keeper Barbara could save only one, from Kosovare Asllani, meaning Lisa Dahlkvist could slot home the 4-3 victor.
Barbara was the hero of Brazil’s marathon 7-6 shootout win against Australia in the quarters, but her save from Kosovare Asslani wasn’t enough to book Brazil a return to the Maracana for the final as Sweden secured their first ever women’s football Olympic medal.
Germany also avenged a group stage defeat in the other semi-final. The Germans defeated Canada 2-0 in the later match Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.
The head coach of the Brazil women’s national football team – Oswaldo Fumeiro Alvarez (commonly known as Vadão), stated that they are aware of the pressures.
“This is a glorious moment for women’s football”.
One of the most storied stadiums in world football, the Maracana is place where legends are born. It is quite a moment and I am just sorry we didn’t make it to the final.
When she finally rose, she and Sweden coach Pia Sundhage shared a warm embrace.
“It is very emotional”.
“With Marta you have to have a little extra attention to her, even though our team defense is really good and really organized”.
Brazilian striker Marta, generally considered the greatest women’s footballer of all time, wanted nothing more than to win an Olympic gold medal in front of a home crowd at the Maracana Stadium to cap her career.
Lindahl suffers from vitiligo, a condition that causes patches of skin to lose their pigment, making the skin particularly sensitive in the sun.
The first game kicked off at 12:00pm, as Brazil faced Sweden.
Lindahl even had to endure chants of “Zika” from the home fans, which had been previously reserved for outspoken U.S. ‘keeper Hope Solo. Brazil had 33 shots at goal, compared to Sweden’s six.
While Dahlkvist was on for the penalty kick, she just pretended all those Brazilians were cheering for her team, and then she stepped up and nailed down her penalty kick to eliminate Brazil and proceed to the Olympic soccer final. Lisa Dahlkvist scored the decisive penalty on Sweden’s fifth attempt after Andressa, the youngest player on the Brazil squad, saw her penalty saved by Hedvig Lindahl.
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What all could agree with was that Sweden’s managed Sundhage has been brilliant, and don’t fault her for the game plan.
