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Brazil shock world champions Spain to reach Olympic final

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 7, 2024
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Brazil upset World Cup holders Spain 4-2 to reach the women's football final of the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Gabi Portilho scored one and assisted another for Brazil, who will now take on the United States in the final.

Salma Paralluelo netted two late goals for Spain, who had previously beaten Brazil 2-0 in the tournament's group stage.

With only six minutes left, Spain gifted Brazil a surprise 1-0 lead when goalkeeper Cata Coll's clearance hit teammate Irene Paredes and deflected into her own goal.

In the 37th minute, Priscila almost doubled Brazil's lead. The forward picked up a diagonal pass, shook off Spain defender Ona Battle to face Coll, only to see her shot fly wide of the left post.

Portilho made it 2-0 for Brazil in first-half injury time, as she raced onto a cross from teammate Yasmim unchallenged before coolly slotting home past Coll.

Brazil were 3-0 in front in the 72nd minute when Adriana, who was captaining Brazil in the absence of Marta, headed home a pass from Portilho in a fast attack.

Marta was forced to sit out the game after Brazil had lost an appeal against her two-match ban before the semifinal.

In the 85th minute, Paralluelo pulled one back for Spain with a header.

One minute into injury time, Brazil forward Kerolin intercepted a pass from Coll before slotting the ball home through the goalkeeper's legs.

Paralluelo scored her second goal deep into injury time, but it was too little, too late for the 2023 World Cup winners.

In the day's other semifinal, Sophia Smith scored in extra-time to help the United States beat Germany 1-0.

Smith hit in the winner five minutes into extra-time when she evaded a defender before unleashing a right-footed effort.

The semifinal was a repeat of a group game, in which the United States had defeated Germany 4-1 last Sunday.

Germany's defense was well organized, repeatedly snuffing out the United States' attack and holding them to a goalless draw in regular time.

The United States recorded 10 shots on goal against Germany's six throughout the match.

This is the first time that the four-time champion United States have reached an Olympic football final since London 2012.

Brazil made to the final at both 2004 and 2008 Olympics, but lost to the United States on both occasions. 

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