Sweden, ranked sixth in the world, will play secondranked Germany at the Maracana on Friday after they enjoyed a 2-0 win over Canada on Tuesday.
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Brazil went closest to breaking the deadlock in second-half stoppage time but Formiga’s header was saved by keeper Helvig Lindahl.
Known simply by her first name, Marta Vieira da Silva won fans all over Brazil during the Olympic tournament.
“I think that’s all”, Lindahl said. They didn’t want to play great soccer.
Unlike against the Aussies, five-time World Player of the Year Marta did convert from the spot, but was reduced to tears as her ambition of capping a glorious career by finally winning a major global title fell short of the final.
Despite their defensive structure, the first opportunity fell to the visitors, Nilla Fischer’s incisive long ball to Schelin seeing the captain control the pass inside the Brazil penalty area, but her shot was sacked well over the crossbar.
Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross must overcome their disappointment at not being in the gold medal match to battle top-seeded Brazilian women Talita and Larissa for the bronze. Brazil’s charismatic forward won FIFA’s Women’s World Player of the Year five consecutive years from 2006 to ’10, but she has never won a major worldwide tournament with her national team. They wanted to see us playing in the final here in Brazil.
The Swedes paid tribute to her, with coach Pia Sundhage saying: “I think she had a fantastic game and created problems for us”. “There was something very attractive said at the locker room”, she said.
Rio’s women’s medal matches in soccer, which go on Friday, won’t feature Hope Solo.
Germany also avenged a group stage defeat in the other semi-final. “That’s a compliment to her”, Solo told The Associated Press during the Olympics. “So I’m very aware that we have to pay extra attention to her”. The result of the major tournament should have to be a gold medal, for the reason that’s a need for women’s football.
Marta has scored 104 goals in 107 global appearances. At 33, it is conceivable that Marta could play in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
Sweden ended a disconsolate Marta’s dreams of guiding Brazil’s women to a first Olympic football gold medal Tuesday with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win to book their place in the gold medal match.
Speaking of yesterday’s performance, Marta said: “We didn’t lack opportunities”.
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And she was under fire in the Rio heat as a flurry of early Brazilian attacks peppered the Sweden goal. “I can only say that I feel frustration”, said Brazilian coach Vadao. Brazil keeper Barbara could save only one, from Kosovare Asllani, meaning Lisa Dahlkvist could slot home the 4-3 victor.
