Saturday’s quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics did not lack drama:
- The USWNT needed a 105th minute goal from Trinity Rodman to defeat Japan’s stifling defense.
- Colombia was minutes away from eliminating reigning Women’s World Cup champions Spain, but a late stoppage time goal by Irene Paredes, followed by a strong penalty shootout performance, saw Spain advance.
- Canada and Germany went scoreless for 120 minutes, but Ann-Katrin Berger was the hero Germany needed during the penalty shootout as she stopped two kicks and made the decisive kick to see the 2016 gold medalists through.
- France had their chances against Brazil, including a missed penalty kick by Sakina Karchaoui, but Gabi Portilho made the most of hers, sending Brazil through to their sixth Olympic semifinal.
USWNT 1, Japan 0 (aet)
Sometimes the best defense is a patient offense. Japan conceded possession to the USA by defending primarily in a five-back low block and focusing on transition scoring opportunities. The USWNT chose to limit its attacking, focusing on maintaining possession (sometimes to the audible displeasure of spectators in the stands), and thus limiting Japan’s chances of converting on counters. All in all, the USA had possession of the ball for almost 80 minutes, while Japan had it for about 31 minutes (with the ball “in contest” for about 9 minutes).
The USWNT were without two of its defensive starters for the match, which likely played a role in Emma Hayes’s strategy for the match: Center-back Tierna Davidson, who suffered a contusion of either the knee or leg against Germany, and holding midfielder Sam Coffey, who was serving a yellow card suspension. Forward/midfielder Jaedyn Shaw, who was not available for any of the group stage matches due to a leg injury, returned to the bench.
On another day, Japan could have won the match, likely by multiple goals, as the Nadeshiko did have some dangerous chances, most notably in the 35th and 36th minutes, but, luckily, none of their opportunities were converted.
Similarly, the USWNT had chances to win the match in regulation: Mallory Swanson had a good shot that went slightly wide in the 63rd minute and just before the end of second-half stoppage time, Trinity Rodman, at the top of the penalty area, collected a pass from Sophia Smith and was able to dribble close to the 6-yard box, but a hard touch and last-gasp defending by Japan neutralized her effort.
The game opened up a bit in the first period of extra time, as both teams had a few dangerous chances. But the match would not see its first and only goal until the 2nd minute of added time when Crystal Dunn sent a long cross over to a just onside Rodman, who then dribbled into the 18-yard box, where she cut back and sent a hard left-footed curling shot into the far upper left corner of the goal. Japan’s goalkeeper, Ayaka Yamashita, was only able to get a hand on the ball, which only slightly altered its path.
In the second period of extra time, Japan had one good opportunity to net an equalizer, but that was stopped by desperate defending from the USWNT.
With about ten minutes to go, the USWNT had a chance to double their lead on a fast break as Rodman one-timed a shot on a pass from Smith, but the shot hit the foot of Yamashita and bounced harmless out of bounds for a corner kick.
As the USWNT’s quarterfinal was the first match of the day, they had to wait until the conclusion of the Canada-Germany match to see who their opponent would be.
See also: Olympics 2024: Why Trinity Rodman’s Goal versus Japan Was Not Offside
Additional Links: Match report (PDF), FIFA match page, NBC Sports highlights
Spain 2, Colombia 2 (aet/pso 4:2)
Spain was suppose to have one of the easier group stage matches, but Colombia did not follow the script. Up until the 79th minute, Colombia had a 2-nil lead via fast break goals from Mayra Ramirez and Leicy Santos, in the 12th and 52nd minutes, respectively.
In the 79th minute, Spain had hope: A poor parry by Colombia’s goalkeeper, Katherine Tapia, set up a Salma Paralluelo pass to Jenni Hermoso, who struck a shot that went just to the right of Tapia’s left foot and into the back of the net.
For the next sixteen minutes, Colombia still had the advantage, but then Paralluelo got her second assist of the match when she sent a driven cross to Irene Paredes, who then powered home the equalizer from the top center of the 6-yard box.
After two scoreless periods of extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout. Spain only needed to convert four kicks, as Spain’s Cata Coll blocked a weakly taken kick from Colombia’s captain, Catalina Usme, and substitute Liana Salazar skied her shot over the crossbar. Aitana Bonmati converted the decisive kick which sent Spain through to a semifinal against either France or Brazil.
Additional Links: Match report (PDF), FIFA match page, NBC Sports highlights
Canada 0, Germany 0 (aet/pso 2:4)
For over 120 minutes, Germany was not the better team. Canada had twice as many as shots (23 to 11), while Germany only had 1 shot on target, compared to Canada’s 5. Germany did not lack scoring opportunities, as they had 13 corner kicks (to just 3 for Canada).
But, Canada was the more dangerous side and had at least two strong chances to break the deadlock before extra time. In the 70th minute, Adriana Leon had an excellent two-on-one fast break opportunity, but hesitated and chose to go with a right-footed shot straight at Germany’s goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, instead of either passing the ball to her right to an open player or shifting left and taking an shot with her left foot. Then, over four minutes into second-half stoppage time, Janine Beckie had a half-opened shot that she sent just wide of the right post.
Germany’s two best chances came during extra time and both were off of deadball situations. In added time of the first period of extra time, a corner kick was almost knocked home by Jules Brand, but Vanessa Gilles blocked the shot almost immediately. Then, with about eight minutes left in extra time, Germany conceded a free kick by fouling Beckie just outside the penalty area. The free kick, which was essentially a short corner kick, found substitute midfielder Sydney Lohmann who headed the ball high, onto the crossbar, and out of bounds.
In the ensuing penalty shootout, 4 of the 6 converted spot kicks were by current NWSL players. Canada made just two of their kicks: Their first, by Quinn, who plays for the Seattle Reign, and their fourth, by Janine Beckie, who plays for the Portland Thorns. Ashley Lawrence and Adriana Leon, who both play in England, had their shots saved by Gotham FC’s Ann-Katrin Berger.
Germany converted 4 of their 5 spot kicks, with only Sydney Lohmann missing her attempt. Giulia Gwinn of Bayern Munich and Janina Minge of VFl Wolfsburg made Germany’s first two attempts. Felicitas Rauch, who plays for the North Carolina Courage, and Berger netted Germany’s final two penalties.
Additional Links: Match report (PDF), FIFA match page, NBC Sports highlights
France 0, Brazil 1
Although this was the only match to not go to extra time, it did have plenty of added time, as the final whistle did not blow until the 19th minute beyond the regular 90. And, when that whistle did blow, Marta knew that she had one more chance to appear in a medal match at the Olympics. However, Marta will not be available for Brazil’s semifinal match against Spain, as she received a red card for a serious foul play, and thus a 2 match suspension, in the two teams’ group stage match.
However, when center referee Tori Penso blew the opening whistle of this quarterfinal, Brazil knew that they had an uphill battle against a gifted France side that was playing on its home soil.
In the 16th minute, France had a golden chance to take an early lead via a penalty kick. Just before the penalty kick, current Houston Dash defender Tarciane tripped future San Diego Wave forward Delphine Cascarino inside the 18-yard box. However, Sakina Karchaoui left-footed kick was pushed out for a corner kick by a diving Lorena.
In the 40th minute, France hit the crossbar on a Griedge Mbock Bathy header from a corner kick.
Brazil’s best chance of the first half came just before the half-time whistle, when Jhennifer jumped up to head home a cross, but the ball hit her the lower part of her head and went harmlessly wide.
In the second-half, Marie-Antoinette Katoto had an opportunity to add to her tournament-leading goal tally on a dangerous 58th minute cross, but headed it over the bar.
In the 63rd minute, Brazil’s Gabi Portilho gave France a scare when she dispossessed Wendie Renard, sending the ball to Adriana, who then passed it back to Portilho. Portilho, dribbled a couple steps, then sent a hopeful shot across the face of goal, but it went safely out of bounds.
About 20 minutes later, France and its fans were feeling dread after Gabi Portilho, in the center of France’s half, out-raced both Elisa de Almeida and Mbock Bathy, to latch onto a hopeful pass from Adriana, who kicked the ball from the right sideline, a few yards inside Brazil’s half of the pitch. Portilho dribbled a few yards into the box and sent a low shot to the left of goalkeeper Constance Picaud, who started in place of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Just before the clock turned to 90:00, Portilho had an opportunity to double Brazil’s lead when she intercepted a pass from Picaud, but her hard-hit tight-angled shot from the right side bounced off the near post and rolled out of bound over the far sideline.
Ten minutes into added time, France had their best chance to equalize and almost a second bite from the penalty spot on a long free kick that found Katoto who sent an uncontrolled cross that found Eugenie Le Sommer, who redirected the ball to Mbock Bathy inside the 6-yard box. Her shot richoted off Tarciane, then almost instantly deflected off the lower right arm of another Brazil and was then caught by Lorena.
But, unfortunately for France, Tori Penso did not blow her whistle for a foul. As VAR should only be involved when there is a “clear and obvious error” or a “serious missed incident” in certain situations, including the possible of a penalty (IFAB VAR Protocol), the ball hitting the arm of the Brazil player was likely deemed to not be a handling offense as there was no evidence that the player either “deliberately touch[ed] the ball with their… arm” and/or “made their body unnaturally bigger” given “the player’s body movement for [this] specific situation”. (IFAB, Law 12)
With the defeat, France’s major tournament woes continue: They have not made the semifinals of any major senior tournament (WWC, Olympics, Women’s Euros) since 2012, where they finished fourth at the Summer Olympics, losing to Canada in the bronze medal match.
Additional Links: Match report (PDF), FIFA match page, NBC Sports highlights
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