Alex Morgan cancelled out Stina Blackstenius’s second-half opener for Sweden, but the European side kept their cool in extra time in Brasilia, and Lisa Dahlkvist scored the shoot-out victor.
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“I never thought I could play at the Maracana”, striker Andressa Alves told FIFA.com. “Simple answer”, Dahlkvist said, laughing while describing how she tuned out the din at the almost full stadium.
Hope Solo, never afraid to speak her mind, called the Swedish women’s soccer team “cowards” Friday after the Swedes knocked the USA out of the Olympics in a penalty kick shootout. The U.S. women’s soccer team had their temperaments tested by a savvy, conservative Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinals, and lost.
Marta, the five-times world player of the year, missed Brazil’s fifth penalty of the shootout but Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara saved Australia’s last spot kick from Katrina Gorry to take it to sudden death. Brazil will play in the Bronze Medal Match on Friday, Aug. 19 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
The fans at the almost filled 78,000-seat Maracana _ the biggest crowd ever for a women’s national team match in Brazil _ roared whenever Marta touched the ball.
Brazil has won silver twice (2004, 2008) and finished in fourth twice (1996, 2000), while Sweden’s best finish had been fourth (2004).
One fan lofted a sign that said “Marta We Love You”. Sundhage was a player on the Sweden team that fell 2-1 to the Americans.
Both teams had their chances in the opening 90 minutes, and the intensity rose as the defensive-minded Swedes started going on the attack more.
Sweden s hero Lindahl described the baking sun in Salvador during the Scandinavians shock quarter-final win over three-time defending gold medallists the United States as “her enemy”.
Sweden had only beaten the United States five times before Friday’s quarterfinal meeting, which the team won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Solo went on to say; “I’m very proud of this team, But I also think we played a bunch of cowards”.
Following their victory and Solo’s controversial statements, Swedish coach Pia Sundhage defended her team’s play on the field, telling ESPN that “it’s OK to be a coward if you win”. Although France ranks No. 3 in the world for women’s soccer, the USA was only able to score once, with Solo working magic in the goal to neutralize the U.S.’s poor defense during the final 15 minutes of the match. Sweden’s goal came from Stina Blackstenius in the 61st minute.
“What people are saying in the media, it’s not a big deal. I think it was very cowardly”, Solo said. “We have been trying to develop the sport, football, for women”, said Vadao on the eve of the biggest day in Brazilian women’s football history.
Led by Neymar and promising youngsters Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol, Brazil is playing in its third-straight Olympic semifinal, and seventh overall.
The win against the US in the quarter-finals and now the scalp of Vadao’s side make the Europeans clear favorites for the gold medal.
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Sweden now face Brazil in the semi-finals in the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. Brazil beat Sweden 1-0 in the semifinals at those Olympics. It doesn’t matter that we beat them 5-1 in the first phase.
