Spain beat Brazil in the fight for first place in Group C

Spain took first place in its group in the Olympic women’s football tournament on Wednesday by beating Brazil 2-0 with goals from Athenea del Castillo and Alexia Putellas.

A result that also left the Canarinha in a very bad position, since they will have to wait until the end of the day to find out if they advance to the next round as one of the two best third-placed teams.

Spain needed just one point to top Group C, while Brazil needed to win or, if they lost, hope to be one of the two best third-placed teams.

The precedents between the two were favourable to Brazil, with a final draw in which Alexia and Geyse were the scorers, but little remains of that Spain that had not won anything.

Crash into a figure

The world champions, Nations League champions and number ones wanted to show off in front of everyone’s idol, Marta Vieira da Silva.

In the heat and humidity of Bordeaux, Montse Tomé revolutionised the starting eleven. Without Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí in the centre of the field, Patri Guijarro, Tere Abelleira and Jenni Hermoso were in charge of directing the Spanish game.

Brazil’s pace at the start was frenetic. Although the first attack was from La Roja, Arthur Elias’ team relied on counterattacks against Spain’s maturing play and deployed, like Japan and Nigeria, a five-man defence. But Spain’s ball circulation and play between the lines had a different rhythm and fluidity.

Lucía García missed Olga Carmona’s cross by centimetres and, immediately, Ludmila started down the right and Codina touched the ball, which went straight to the post.

A scare that Lucía García wanted to put behind her with a goal, but Patri Guijarro had extended the ball into an offside position.

Strength of Spain

The disallowed goal gave Spain strength, which grew, but Brazil resisted. Antonia and Tarciane deflected shots from Laia Aleixandri and Eva Navarro in the 26th minute and Lorena, who stopped the game several times due to discomfort, cleared a powerful shot from Tere.

Spain was feeling stronger and stronger and Brazil could only stop them with aggressive pressure. With seven minutes of added time, the world champions were under siege so much that Marta committed a foul unbecoming of her experience.

The Brazilian legend went with his foot up to clear a ball and kicked Olga Carmona in the head with his studs.

Marta was sent off in the sixth minute of extra time in the first half and went to the locker room crying.

Spain again forgave with a free kick from Tere Abelleira that was saved by Lorena to close the first half.

After the break, Salma and Mariona came on in search of a goal, but Brazil had two very dangerous chances from Ludmila that Cata Coll saved.

More actions

Spain came close to scoring with a through ball from Mariona to Athenea that was blocked by the Canarinha defence, but they did not fail in the next play. Mariona put in a cross and Athenea sealed the win (m.68).

Cata Coll, who received a knee to the face from Lauren that affected her eye and nose, had to be replaced by Misa. Despite Brazil’s good start to the game, Spain trapped Brazil in its area, which, with one player less, was struggling to counterattack.

The only attack from the South American team was from Ana Vitoria, but Aleixandri was sublime in stopping the action.

The match was becoming eventful and constantly interrupted. Lorena threw herself to the ground for the fifth time, the referee decided to add 16 minutes and, when the match seemed over with Antonia Silva leaving injured in tears, Alexia Putellas invented another brilliant goal, with a perfect shot, to make it 0-2 in the 107th minute.

Bordeaux / EFE