MARSEILLE, France: Brazil will face 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 Irene Paredes own goal put the two-time silver medalist in front.
“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 delay Spain's late charge. “I'm so excited, so excited, so excited, and I'm really, really, really impressed with my teammates.
The win means Brazilian great Marta has the chance to end her glittering international career by challenging for gold after being suspended for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Marta, 38, said her sixth Olympics would be her last major tournament with the national team.
“We just knew what we were going to do today and today was the final for us,” said Angelina, who led the Brazilian team. “So we were very determined and we came for the win.
Angelina said the Brazilian team needed to “celebrate a bit” but quickly focus on the final.
“It was a great victory. Spain are an amazing team again and we knew it,” she said. “So now we need to rest and study a lot and see what we can do against USA.
Spain will not get a chance in Paris to 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 constantly fighting for something super nice and it will be until the end of the Olympics,” said Spanish forward Jennifer Hermoso. “A bronze medal is also very difficult to get.
A Paredes own goal in the sixth minute put Brazil in control and Portilho doubled the advantage in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Adriana's header in the 71st underlined Brazil's dominance. But with the seemingly certain win came much more drama.
Salma Paralluelo pulled a goal back for Spain with a header in the 85th and almost immediately Alexia Putellas hit the post outside the box.
Kerolin made it 4-1 — with a shot through the legs of Spanish goalkeeper Cato Coll.
Paralluelo broke through in the 12th minute of stoppage time, but it was too late for Spain to make a comeback.
Brazil will face four-time champion US Women's National Team in Saturday's final at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Spain plays Germany for bronze in Lyon.
Brazil has been defeated twice in the Olympic final by the United States — in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
They secured their place in the final for the third time after overturning a 2-0 loss to Spain in the group stage of the tournament.
It was a game that also saw Marta red carded, and Brazil received confirmation just hours before kick-off that their appeal against their 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 soon after Spain's disastrous defensive mix-up when Coll – under pressure from Priscilla – attempted a clearance that bounced off Paredes and into her own net.
Brazil dominated the chances – repeatedly pushing for goal – and made their superiority clear just before half-time through Portillo, who slotted into the bottom corner after Yasmim's cross.
Adriana made it 3-0 after seeing her initial effort hit the post from six yards before heading back across goal from Portil's nod.
Spain, who came from 2-0 down to beat Colombia in the quarter-finals, gave their fans hope with a header from Paralluel. But with Carolin leading Brazil 4-1, Paralluel's second proved to be little more than a consolation.
“We showed the world that we have a young team and a team that understands tactics very well, that competes, that will always be that – competitive,” Brazil coach Arthur Elias said. “Brazil in women's football is a source of great pride.”
