MARSEILLE, France: Brazil will meet the USA in the final of the Olympic women's soccer tournament after beating world champions Spain 4-2 on Tuesday.
Gabi Portilho, Adriana and Kerolin struck in a thrilling semi-final at the Stade de Marseille after an own goal from Irene Paredes put the two-time silver medalists ahead.
“It's a dream and dreams do come true,” said Kerolin, whose goal in the first of more than 15 minutes of stoppage time helped stop a late Spain comeback. “I'm so excited, so excited, so excited, and I'm really, really, really impressed with my teammates.”
Victory means Brazilian great Marta has the chance to end her glittering international career competing for gold after being suspended in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Marta, 38, said her sixth Olympics will be her last major tournament with the national team.
“We just knew what we came to do today and it was a final for us today,” said Angelina, who was leading the Brazil team. “So we were very determined and just came for the win.”
Angelina said the Brazil team needed to “celebrate a bit” but quickly focus on the final.
“It was a big win. Again, Spain are an amazing team and we knew that,” she said. “So now we have to rest and we have to study a lot and see what we can do against the USA.”
Spain will miss the chance in Paris to further cement their place at the top of women's football by adding Olympic gold to the World Cup they won last year.
But there is still much to play for at the Paris Games.
“We are still fighting for something super beautiful and it will continue to be the Olympics until the end,” said Spanish forward Jennifer Hermoso. “A bronze medal is also very hard to get.”
Paredes' own goal in the sixth minute put Brazil in control and Portilho doubled the lead in the fourth minute of the first half.
Adriana's header in the 71st underlined Brazil's dominance. But with victory seemingly assured, much more drama followed.
Salma Paralluelo pulled a goal back for Spain with a header in the 85th and almost immediately Alexia Putellas hit the bar with a shot from outside the box.
Kerolin made it 4-1 — shooting through the legs of Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll.
Paralluelo grabbed the second in the 12th minute of stoppage time, but by then it was too late for Spain to come back.
Brazil will play four-time national women's champion USA in Saturday's final at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Spain play Germany in Lyon for bronze.
Brazil has been beaten twice in an Olympic final by the USA – in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
They secured a place in the finals for the third time after making amends for a 2-0 defeat in the tournament's group stage against Spain.
It was a game that also saw Marta red-carded, and Brazil received confirmation just hours before the semi-finals kicked off that the appeal against her ban had been rejected.
In the end, Brazil didn't need their biggest player on this occasion and took a big step towards the final early on after a calamitous mix-up in Spain's defense when Coll – under pressure from Priscila – attempted a clearance that rebounded from Paredes and into her own net.
Brazil dominated the chances – repeatedly going through on goal – and made their superiority count just before half-time through Portilho, who headed into the bottom corner from Yasmim's cross.
Adriana made it 3-0 after seeing her initial effort hit the bar from six yards and then heading in from Portilho's head.
Spain, who fought back from 2-0 down to beat Colombia in the quarter-finals, gave fans hope with Paralluelo's header. But when Kerolin put Brazil 4-1 up, a second for Paralluelo proved to be anything but a consolation.
“We showed the world that we have a young team and a team that has a very good tactical understanding, that competes, that will always be like that – competitive,” Brazil coach Arthur Elias said. “Brazil in women's football is a source of great pride.”
