Brazil delivered a historic upset as they defeated Spain in the 2024 Olympic semifinals on Tuesday, 4-2. Spain, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup champions, were considered heavy favorites to compete for the gold medal but were eliminated by a side that failed to make it out of the group stage of the 2023 World Cup but rallied around their veteran star. The Brazilians exposed Spain in transition throughout the Olympic semifinal and defeated La Roja to stamp their place in the Olympic final against the U.S. women's national team on Saturday.
The semifinal was a rematch of the group stage between the two sides where Spain defeated Brazil 2-0 nearly a week ago. The storylines around Brazil heading into the semifinal framed them as underdogs and centered around the absence of Marta. The iconic Brazilian national team player said earlier this year that 2024 would be her final run with the national team. The longtime forward received a red card for a dangerously high boot to the head of Spain's Olga Carmona in the group stage finales and with the direct caution came a two-game suspension.
The only way the soccer legend would make another appearance for Brazil was if the team won its quarterfinal against France, cementing at worst a spot in the bronze medal match. Brazil played an inspired, gutsy game against the tournament hosts and eliminated France from contention with Marta in the stands smiling and cheering on. Then they handled the World Cup campions, but it wasn't without high-stakes drama -- they needed multiple goals to ensure the victory.
Several of Brazil's national team members play their club soccer in the NWSL, the U.S. women's professional league, including Marta who plays with Orlando Pride. North Carolina Courage forward Kerolin delivered the insurance goal late in stoppage time to make the final scoreline 4-2. The 24-year-old attacker is coming off an ACL injury she sustained last October.
Check out her goal where she trolled Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll before slotting the between the keeper's legs:
KERO UNDER THE KEEPER’S LEGS 🥶 pic.twitter.com/ThBcCwJLgN
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 6, 2024
This will be the third time that the USWNT and Brazil meet in the Olympic final after appearances against the Stars and Stripes in 2004 and 2008. The U.S. won gold in each of the previous meetings and were only Olympic games where Brazil reached the final.
