Brazil’s hopes of a first Olympic women’s football gold came to an end at the semi-final stage after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat by Sweden.
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The result was a huge letdown for the host nation, who were vastly superior and had the raucous support of a capacity crowd at the Maracana stadium.
“Today we are sad because the match has just ended, but there will be no more sadness tomorrow”, Barbara insisted.
Marta, who was cheered every time she touched the ball, said: “This loss won’t take away from all that we have done to get here”. The Canadian side rebounded a couple days later to win 1-0 in Ottawa.
Most figured the World Cup champion USA national team would be cruising to its fourth straight gold medal.
Saturday’s men’s football final is set in Rio.
Melanie Behringer scored for Germany at the 21-minute mark and Sara Daebritz added the second goal at the 60-minute mark. I can only say frustration, no other way.
Brazil can still end the long wait for a first Olympic gold medal in football at their home Games as their men remain in the competition and face Honduras in the semi-finals Wednesday. Germany went on to win, 4-1, and send Sweden home without a victory in Canada. She’s a capable goal scorer and will be one of Germany’s main weapons against Sweden’s defense.
With a win in the final, Neid could cap her career with a championship. They play the victor of the late match – Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross against Brazil’s Agatha and Barbara – in Wednesday’s final.
Solo had castigated Sweden as “cowards” for their defensive display in the last eight, but that seemed to only strengthen the resolve of Sundhage’s women as they barely threatened the Brazilian goal.
Sweden’s best finish was in Athens when the team fell to Germany in the bronze medal match.
Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult, center, celebrates with teammates after beating Canada 2-0 to reach the final of the women’s Olympic football tournament at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.
But the Rio Games team had been grabbing the headlines and outshining the men’s side since kicking off on August 3, prompting many observers to ask whether that focus will die out with the Olympic flame or broadcasters and sponsors will finally invest.
Cristiane has scored 14 goals across four appearances at the Games, but was only introduced for extra-time due to a thigh injury which kept her out the quarter-final. “We were needing a goal to break them”.
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“I’m delighted that Pia has put her faith in me, and that confidence is crucial to our tactic of inviting opposing sides on and then hitting them on the counter-attack”, Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl told Fifa.com after pulling off two saves in the shootout against Brazil.
