Olympic soccer

German women’s soccer team fails dramatically

Brazil's Adriana

(Bild: Associated Press)

The USA women's soccer team will face Brazil in the final of the Olympic tournament on Saturday (5pm)! The United States beat Germany 1:0 after extra time in the dramatic first semi-final in Lyon on Tuesday, and three hours later the South Americans demolished world champions Spain 4:2 (2:0) in Marseille - without their suspended star Marta.

The 38-year-old and the association had failed in an application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to shorten her two-match red ban by one game. However, Marta is back on board for the final. Her team took an early lead against the favored Spaniards thanks to a slapstick goal: goalkeeper Cata Coll, who was under pressure, shot at one of her own players, Irene Paredes, from whom the ball bounced behind the line (6th minute).

Almost 18 minutes of stoppage time
Gabi Portilho (45-4) added another before the break, and Adriana made it 3-0 in the 71st minute. Spain's mini-hope with a late goal from Salma Paralluelo (85') was finally snuffed out by Kerolin (91'), and Paralluelo scored again in almost 18 minutes of stoppage time.

Record title-holders USA had a much tougher time against the Germans in the final round than in the 4-1 victory in the group stage and, despite their superiority in the game, had to go into extra time, just like in the quarter-final against Japan. There, Sophia Smith became the match-winner (95th) in front of around 15,000 spectators. Hours before the match, Germany had to make do without captain Alexandra Popp (infection) and goalkeeper Lea Schüller (inflammation of the patellar tendon).