Sweden advances to women’s Olympic soccer final on penalties

Brazil’s hopes of a first Olympic women’s football gold came to an end at the semi-final stage after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat by Sweden.

“(I think) we played a bunch of cowards”, Solo told reporters after the match.

With a talented team led by Neymar, Brazil arrived at the games as the favorite to win the gold medal. “I strongly and firmly believe that”. “You saw us give everything we had today”.

Whatever the disagreement, Chastain played in 192 global games and scored the glorious penalty kick that won the 1999 World Cup, and she didn’t deserve that kind of snotiness from Solo, a player who profited heavily on the success of the program’s underpaid pioneers. “That’s why no one has won back-to-back”.

“What she did was an act of panic”, Sweden’s goalie Hedvig Lindahl said later, giving a little of it back to Solo. Let’s face it: For every shiny marketing moment and big victory she’s been a part of, she’s given the US a nasty unwanted drama.

Sweden could use a similar game plan against Brazil.

Sundhage will likely take up the same tactics. More important than her past, she showed tactical acumen in the historic win.

With less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation, Marta got free on the right side of the field and was able to get on her left foot for a shot.

With their country’s men’s team underperforming lately, Brazilian fans have been looking for a new superstar to direct their attention to, and they’ve found one in Marta.

Host nation Brazil look to book a spot in the final with a win over Sweden.

Brazil and Sweden advanced to the semifinals by winning thrilling penalty shootouts. The World Cup champions were vying for their fourth straight gold.

“We’ve got a lot of people behind us and that makes all the difference. Very often you say it, and I don’t even really think you mean it”, Sundage said. With the way they are playing both in attack and defence, they will be confident of going one better this time around. “They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to open the game and they tried to counter with long balls”, continued Solo.

Honduras reached the semifinals for the first time after eliminating two-time Olympic champion Argentina in the group stage and getting past South Korea in the quarterfinals.

Solo’s Games has been dogged by controversy as she received chants of “Zika” from fans across Brazil.

Last month the 35-year-old posted a picture of herself with a mosquito net over her head and a huge bottle of insect repellent in hand with the message: “Not sharing this!”

Melanie Behringer netted the victor 14 minutes from time after Chinese substitute Wang Shanshan was sent-off for two quickfire yellow cards.

Sweden, whose previous best showing at an Olympics was a fourth place finish in 2004, will now face the victor of the other semi-final between Germany and Canada.