Brazilian attentions will now be firmly focused on whether their men’s team can win Olympic gold for the first time when they face Germany at the Maracanã tomorrow.
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But Sweden, who eliminated the USA and hosts Brazil to reach the final, refused to give up after that setback and Stina Blackstenius pulled a goal back for the underdogs with around 20 minutes remaining. The 52-year-old had steered Germany to Olympic bronze in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
What a way to go out.
The Swedes had booked their place in the final with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Brazil in the semi-finals to come up against a German outfit that had cruised past Canada in their previous fixture.
Sweet. Very nice camera work, also, showing the goal by Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan barely getting past the fingertips of Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
Yet Sweden responded swiftly through Blackstenius, who converted a first-time ball from the right to set up a grandstand finale. Forward Anja Mittag held the jersey of teammate Simone Laudehr, who was injured in the tournament’s opening match, during the medal ceremony. It is the first time one nation has had both its teams in the final.
The hosts may still be brooding and bruised following that World Cup loss but there was little ill-feeling towards Germany, aside from expressions of frustration at the slow pace of an attritional and uninspiring first half. Lotta Schelin’s blast three minutes later sailed over the goal and the match was scoreless at the break.
Germany doubled its lead 14 minutes later off a Sweden own goal. But the Swedes narrowed it in the 67th on Stina Blackstenius’ sliding goal in front of Scuhlt.
Sweden had been criticised, most notably by outspoken U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, for their defensive tactics in upsetting the world champions and Brazil in the previous two rounds on penalty shootouts. “We played completely different than the game’s ever been played before”. “We felt we were stronger and had more speed against the Germans, so it was the game plan at the very beginning”. Neid will take on a new role as a scout. It is easier when you make the decisions yourself. We had an advantage in the fourth, we had a small lull in energy and that’s when they came back, and they have such good servers that team can come back at any time and be back in a game.
Then in the 21st minute, Germany’s Melanie Leupolz won a header in the box, but she could not put her attempt on frame.
Ashleigh Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo.
Goals either side of half-time from Deanne Rose and veteran captain Christine Sinclair on her 250th global appearance silenced a passionate crowd and saw Canada defend the bronze medal they won in London four years ago. “Everybody knows it’s the athletes, not the coaches, who get the medals”, she added.
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Neid said for 34 years she has been a player, an assistant or a coach. Quite similar and echoing a certain own goal past year but there was nothing else she could do about it.
