USA set up golden replay
Team USA will face off with Brazil in a replay of the gold medal match of four years ago in Athens, after beating Japan 4-2 in their semi-final in Beijing. After going down a goal early, the US turned on the style and roared past the impressive Asians in the Chinese capital.
The game developed quickly into a duel between Japanese flair and technique and American power and organisation. There was no surprise when the lively East Asians opened the scoring, either, with USA looking flat in the early going.
Lindsay Tarpley failed to get up after a Japanese corner in the 16th minute, playing Shinobu Ohno onside. Yukari Kinga’s cross-shot fell to Ohno’s feet, six yards out, and, after controlling, the unmarked striker slammed past Hope Solo and into the USA net.
Minutes later, Ohno again had Solo scrambling with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but this time the keeper was equal to the task with a fine diving save. The Americans looked out of sorts as the half wound down, launching the odd hopeful long ball up to Amy Rodriguez, who looked a lonely figure up front.
The last five minutes of the opening period saw USA finally find their rhythm, and overturn the Japanese lead in the process. First, a low cross from Heather O’ Reilly on the right was dummied by Tarpley, before Angeles Hucles roared through for the simplest of tap-ins. Four minutes later, USA were taking a lead into the interval when Lori Chalupney raced past three defenders and thumped a vicious strike into the top corner.
The US picked up the pace in the second half. They ended the game as a contest when O’Reilly lofted a looping shot over the head of Fukumoto, who was out of position, in the 70th minute. Another goalkeeping error allowed them a fourth with ten minutes to go, Hucles scoring her second of the game from what looked a wayward cross.
The Japanese scrambled a late consolation goal in the closing moments through substitute Eriko Arakawa, but it made no difference to the result. USA will now meet Brazil on 18 August at the Workers’ Stadium, hoping for a second straight gold medal, while Japan and Germany will do battle for bronze earlier in the day.
Brazil earn shot at gold
Highlights are available at this link
Brazil’s 4-1 win over Germany was not only their first over the reigning world champions at senior level, but it was the result that sealed their place in the final of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008.
With Cristiane and Marta in inspired form, Germany had no answer to the creativity, class and composure of their opponents, despite having the better start. Silvia Neid’s side imposed themselves from the first whistle, and in the opening five minutes had already asked questions of their opponents’ defence by firing two corners and a free-kick into the box.
The pressure paid off in the tenth minute, when Erika lost possession with Birgit Prinz bearing down upon her to present the German striker with a one-on-one opportunity. The 30-year-old used all of her experience to keep her cool, rounding Barbara and slotting the ball home. It was her first in the competition and took her tally in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament to ten.
Although the Brazilians saw more of the ball in the 15-minute period after the goal, it was still the Europeans who created the better chances, with Renate Lingor’s free-kicks causing all kinds of problems for their defence. However, the pick of the opportunities came in the 18th minute when Anja Mittag fired wide from 25 yards with just the keeper to beat.
Germany were left to rue that miss when Brazil equalised in the 43rd minute. Following some great approach play down the left, in which she nutmegged Kerstin Stegemann, Cristiane sent the ball in from the left. Marta swung and missed, but with the German defence’s eyes on the Brazilian No10, they ignored the unmarked Formiga, who smashed a right-footed shot into the net. It would have taken something special to beat a goalkeeper who had previously never conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic Games, but the German No1 was left with absolutely no chance from the midfielder’s thunderbolt.
Marta almost added insult to injury a minute later when her goal-bound shot was superbly tipped over the bar by Angerer, but both teams went into the interval level.
The crowd did not have to wait too long for Brazil’s next goal. Renate Lingor’s corner was cleared by the Brazil rearguard into the path of Marta, who ran from deep inside her own half to the edge of the German box. The FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year showed great awareness to slip the ball to her left and find Cristiane, who had the easiest of opportunities to slot the ball home.
By now, Brazil’s pace and movement were threatening to tear the German defence apart and Marta’s goal in the 53rd minute was just reward for their dominance. Receiving the ball down the right channel, she ran at the German defence before squeezing in a left-footed poke past Angerer from the narrowest of angles.
Another Brazilian counter-attack in the 76th minute led to their fourth – and Cristiane’s second of the evening. She squeezed her way past four German defenders and then side-footed the ball into the net for her fifth of the tournament. Four could have easily been five just minutes later when Marta broke down the right and fed substitute Francielle, who screwed her shot wide with only the goalkeeper standing in her way.
Both teams now travel to Beijing for their last match in this competition, but while Brazil will be preparing for a final, Germany must now battle for bronze.
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