Paris. World champions Spain overcame a 2-0 deficit to advance to the semi-finals of the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by beating Colombia on penalties on Saturday.
The Red claimed victory 4-2 from the 11-yard line at the Stade de Lyon. Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, scored the decisive penalty.
Catalina Usme and Liana Salazar missed their shots in the penalty shootout for Colombia, which seemed headed to the semifinals when it took a 2-0 lead through goals from Mayra Ramírez and Leicy Santos in the 12th and 52nd minutes, respectively.
Jenni Hermoso sparked Spain’s comeback in the second half by scoring in the 79th minute and Irene Paredes forced extra time by equalizing in the seventh minute of added time.
Spain will face either France or Brazil in a semi-final in Marseille on Tuesday and remains in the running for a double after winning their first World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand last year.
But for a while, La Roja was on the outside. Ramírez opened the scoring after outflanking Paredes and finishing with class. Santos scored the second with a curling effort to hint at a tremendous surprise in Paris 2024.
Almost a quarter of an hour after coming on for Alexia Putellas, Hermoso brought Spain closer and Paredes scored with a shot from the heart of the area.
In the opening penalty shootout, Usme’s shot was weak and the Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll easily saved it. Salazar sent Colombia’s third shot over the crossbar.
Spain was impeccable in converting all four of their shots.
Colombia was leading 2-0 when star player Linda Caiceda was injured and had to leave the match on a stretcher in the 66th minute.
The United States also advances to the semifinals after beating Japan 1-0
The United States team, for its part, suffered against Japan’s ironclad defense. But it sealed the victory 1-0 thanks to Trinity Rodman’s goal in extra time.
The US team will face the winner of the match between Germany and Canada in Marseille.
The United States entered the quarterfinals undefeated, outscoring their opponents 9-2 under new coach Emma Hayes, but Japan was able to hold them back.
Rodman’s goal came as stoppage time was ending in the first overtime. It was Rodman’s third goal of the tournament and he came close to scoring again in the second overtime.
“At the end of the day in games like this, sometimes it takes a moment of magic, and some individual quality and that’s what Trin did,” said her attacking partner Mallory Swanson.
Former US women’s national team stars Megan Rapinoe and Mia Hamm, as well as rapper Snoop Dogg, were among the fans who turned out at a packed Parc des Princes.
Hayes, a former Chelsea coach, was hired last fall to lead the Americans after they struggled at last summer’s Women’s World Cup and were eliminated early from the tournament.
It was a close match between rivals who know each other well. Japan defeated the United States in the 2011 Women’s World Cup final. The following year, the Americans beat Japan in the 2012 Olympic final. That gold in London was the fourth the U.S. team won at the Olympics and its last since.
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– 2024-08-07 12:28:15
