E-Paper
Sweden break Brazilian hearts with shoot-out win
RIO DE JANEIRO: Sweden ended a disconsolate Marta’s dreams of guiding Brazil’s women to a first Olympic football gold medal on Tuesday with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out
RIO DE JANEIRO: Sweden ended a disconsolate Marta’s dreams of guiding Brazil’s women to a first Olympic football gold medal on Tuesday with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win to set up a final with Germany.
The five-time world player of the year walked off in tears after the upset before 70,000 people in a stunned Maracana Stadium.
Brazil thrashed the Swedes 5-1 in the group stages but were held to a third consecutive 0-0 draw. As in their quarter-final win over Australia, they forced to go through the agony of penalties. Unlike against the Australians, Marta converted from the spot, but then saw her ambition of capping a glorious career by finally winning a major international title devastated.
“There is no way to describe the feeling of frustration,” said Brazil coach Vadao.
Marta, who has played her club football in Sweden for the past four years, was consoled by Swedish players, whilst the huge Maracana crowd gave their defeated team a huge ovation.
Cristiane and Andressa saw spot-kicks saved by Hedvig Lindahl after neither side could score a goal in 120 minutes.
Lisa Dahlkvist converted the winning penalty to secure a place in the final and Sweden’s first women’s football Olympic medal.
Brazil’s women were playing for just the second time at Maracana and Marta hopes the momentum built-up for the women’s version of the game in football-mad Brazil is not halted by the disappointment.
“Nothing will take the shine off the work we did during the whole year,” Marta told SporTV.
“This is a glorious moment for women’s football. It is everybody’s dream to play here,” added Vadao. “It is full of tradition. It is a cultural thing, it is a symbol. Maracana means Brazil and Brazil means football. It is quite a moment and I am just sorry we didn’t make it to the final.”
