Brazil faces US in women’s soccer final…will Marta’s last dance be complete?

In the “Olympic Last Dance,” Brazil’s 38-year-old veteran striker Marta has a chance to finish her sixth Olympic Games on a golden note.

Brazil advanced to the final of the women’s soccer semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a 4-2 victory over Spain at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France, on Sunday (Sept. 7).

The Brazilians, who are in the final for the first time in 16 years, will face the United States, who defeated Germany 1-0 in extra time in the other semifinal, for the trophy at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. ET.

Brazil’s final appearance brought a smile to the face of veteran forward Marta, who was watching from the stands.

The veteran forward had missed the quarterfinal against France, as well as today’s quarterfinal against Spain, after being sent off in the final group game and serving a two-match suspension.

Brazil has never won a gold medal in women’s soccer at the Olympics, having finished runner-up twice (2004-2008) and fourth four times (1996, 2000, 2016).

The United States, on the other hand, is the all-time favorite, having finished on top four times (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012).

After falling in the quarterfinals at Rio de Janeiro 2016 and packing up in the fourth round at Tokyo 2020, the Americans will be eager to reclaim their throne for the first time in eight years.

On the day, Brazil faced Spain, a team they lost 0-2 to in Group C, in a rematch of their previous meeting.

After taking an early lead on an own goal in the eighth minute of the first half, Brazil scored a second goal in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-0 at halftime, and went on to win 4-2 in a back-and-forth affair.

With Brazil finally in the final, the tournament rekindled Marta’s Olympic gold medal dreams as she competed in the Olympic Last Dance.

Marta is a living legend of Brazilian women’s soccer, and the Paris Games will be the last time she will play for the national team.

Having already scored 17 goals in six FIFA Women’s World Cups, the all-time record holder, she is hoping to go for gold in her sixth Olympic Games.

Marta played in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, where the United States won the gold medal.

Brazil will be facing the United States for the gold medal for the first time in 16 years, so Marta will be in high spirits.

In the final group game against Spain, Marta was shown a red card for punching an opponent in the head during a ball contest and was sent off, returning to the bench in tears.

With a two-match suspension for the red card, Marta was facing a bittersweet end to his final Olympic Games.

But Brazil overcame the quarterfinals and semifinals to reach the final, and Marta finally got the chance to go out with a bang on his sixth and final Olympic stage. 안전놀이터