Yahoo Sports 2024 Olympics: Spain go top, Marta red card, Brazil sneak through
A dramatic encounter saw World Cup winners Spain take all three points from their final 2024 Olympics group stage match against Brazil. A red card for Marta left the South Americans reduced to ten throughout the second half and risks ending the legend’s final tournament before retirement.
Spain top their group with maximum points, while Brazil finish third but progress into the knockouts as one of the best third-place finishers.
Starting XIs
Brazil
Leita; Antonia, Tarciane, Sampaio, Tamires, Kerolin, Yaya, Leal, Marta, Silva, Lauren
Spain
Coll; Battle, Abelleira, Castillo, Hermoso, Guijarro, Aleixandri, Navarro, Codina, Garcia, Olga
How it went
The first half initially offered very few chances for either side. Whilst Brazil dominated the early possession, Spain appeared the far stronger side. Despite their attacking dominance, the world champions could not break down the Brazilian defence with the two sides heading in goalless at the break.
However, shortly before half-time, there was a moment of heartbreak for Brazil’s captain. A reckless high challenge on Olga Carmona saw Marta dismissed with a straight red card for the incident. The forward had previously announced her retirement from international football at the end of 2024. The red card could see the 38-year-old banned for up to three games, meaning she would miss the remainder of the Olympic tournament.
Spain eventually broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. Athenea del Castillo found the back of the net after the Brazilian defence failed to clear the danger. A second for the Spanish came deep into a long period of injury time as Alexia Putellas put the game firmly out of Brazil’s reach.
Knock-out stage
Spain secured their spot in the final eight, finishing top of Group A with a full complement of nine points. The world champions will face one of the top-ranked third-place teams in the quarter-finals.
