Germany face US, Spain take on Brazil in women’s Olympic football semis
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Germany's players with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger after the penalty shootout in their women's quarter-final football match against Canada.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger saved two penalties in the shoot-out and scored the winner to knock holders Canada out of the Olympic women’s football on Aug 3, taking Germany into the semi-finals along with Spain, Brazil and the United States.
German captain Alexandra Popp told ZDF: “She’s a machine in goal. And the fact that she then calmly scores the winner herself – hats off to that, it’s impressive how cold-blooded she is.”
The quarter-final in Marseille finished 0-0 after extra time, before 2016 gold medallists Germany prevailed 4-2 in the shoot-out thanks to Berger’s heroics.
“Anyone who knows Ann knows she can shoot, that she can take penalties. She was one of the first on our list,” said coach Horst Hrubesch.
Berger joked: “(Hrubesch) gave me a hard time for not saving the third penalty... I didn’t want to save it because I also wanted to score.”
The Canadians took gold in Tokyo in 2021 but just making it to the last eight this time was a remarkable achievement after they were docked six points in the group stage.
They were hit with the points deduction and a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs (S$309,500) by Fifa as a punishment after a staff member used a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session ahead of their opening match at the tournament.
Canada coach Beverly Priestman was given a one-year ban for her responsibility in the scandal, leaving assistant Andy Spence to take interim charge.
They failed in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the points deduction, but won all three group games to qualify for the last eight.
Germany go through to a last-four tie on Aug 6 in Lyon against the US, who edged out Japan 1-0 in extra time in Paris.
Trinity Rodman scored the only goal of the game in stunning style just before half-time in extra time to settle a tense contest.
The US remain on track under new English coach Emma Hayes to win a record-extending fifth women’s football gold, and a first since defeating Japan in the London 2012 final.
That silver remains Japan’s only medal in the competition and they go home after thwarting the US for most of the game.
“I honestly think that was the only way we were going to find a goal in that game,” Rodman said of her moment of magic after she was set up by Crystal Dunn.
“Obviously we had tried all game long to get in between them and it wasn’t working, but she played it in behind. It just bobbled a little, and then I banged it in the upper 90. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I am very happy about it.”
Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith celebrate after the United States’ 1-0 quarter-final win over Japan.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The presence of rapper Snoop Dogg – working at the Olympics for US television – in the crowd in Paris provided more excitement for many spectators than the game itself.
Japan sat back and allowed the US to have most of the possession, which they did without showing a cutting edge.
Rodman’s goal was sensational, as she controlled a long diagonal ball by Dunn on the right, turned Hikaru Kitagawa inside out and fired a shot high into the far corner.
World Cup winners Spain survived a major scare before beating Colombia 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Lyon, with Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati converting the decisive kick in the shoot-out.
They advance to a semi-final on Aug 6 in Marseille against Brazil, who knocked out hosts France 1-0 in Nantes after Gabi Portilho scored with their first shot on target in the 82nd minute.
Going for gold in their first appearance in the Olympic women’s football, Spain were moments away from being eliminated after falling 2-0 behind.
Mayra Ramirez fired Colombia ahead early on and Leicy Santos doubled their lead early in the second half.
Jennifer Hermoso pulled a goal back in the 79th minute for the world champions, who were then rescued when captain Irene Paredes turned in a Salma Paralluelo cross in the seventh minute of injury time.
That meant extra time, and no further goals led to penalties.
Captain Catalina Usme’s first kick for Colombia was saved, while Liana Salazar missed her attempt as Spain scored all four of their efforts from the spot to go through. AFP, REUTERS
