Déjà vu for golden US
It was a case of Déjà vu as the USA beat Brazil to the gold medal in extra time for the second straight Olympic final on Thursday in Beijing. A Carli Lloyd goal in the 96th minute was the only difference between the sides as they collect their third top Olympic prize in four instalments. Brazil, as they did four years ago in Athens and last year at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, have to tearfully settle for silver.
The contest began cautiously with both sides unwilling to commit too much to attack. The best challenge for the holders came in the 16th minute when Angela Hucles’ corner kick nearly soared directly into the Brazilian net. The bending left-footed try could only splatter against the top of Barbara’s crossbar.
As the half wore on, the Brazilians began to uncoil their springs slightly and push Marta and Cristiane into the US’s defensive third. On 31 minutes, Lori Chalupney gave the ball away in midfield and Formiga took advantage, stringing a fine through ball to the onrushing Cristiane. But the striker - top scorer at these women’s finals - was unable to settle the ball with her first touch and Hope Solo came out to grab hold.
Marta and Cristiane finished the opening period terrorising a supremely organised US defence, but the whistle went before the dynamic duo could do any statistical damage.
Brazil were searching for the crucial goal at the start of the second half, but the American rearguard were standing up to everything thrown at them. On 72 minutes, the dazzling Marta seemed to have found a way through, but after jinking and slinking her way into the penalty area, Solo made an outstanding reflex save at the near post to keep the scores level. It proved to be the turning-point.
Both sides were visibly tiring in the last ten minutes of regular time. In the 85th minute, the US - on the back foot for so long - nearly grabbed a winner, but Barbara was equal to Hucles’ low drive from 18 yards. Then, with just seconds to go, substitute Amy Rodriguez was denied by the Brazilian keeper when it looked an odds-on a goal.
The North Americans’ superior strength and fitness began to really show in the extra-time period. And only six minutes into the first half of it, they laid claim to that elusive, and precious, goal. Rodriguez knocked the ball off for Carli Lloyd at the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder skipped past two defenders before rifling a left-footer low past Barbara (1-0).
The USA’s gold medal is their third in four Olympic finals and their second on the trot. For Brazil, who lit up the tournament with their flair and creativity, it’s another case of so close yet so far.
Bajramaj brace bags bronze
An opportunistic double from substitute Fatmire Bajramaj sealed a 2-0 win over Japan and ensured Germany claimed bronze for the third successive Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The youngster’s well-taken brace put paid to a spirited Japanese challenge that only faded in the second half as the impressive Asians began to tire, but the Nadeshiko nevertheless emerged with huge credit from this closely-matched encounter.
Japan certainly dominated the opening period, outpassing and at times outclassing the world champions, who were once again forced to rely on their outstanding goalkeeper, Nadine Angerer.
On 21 minutes, the German No1 came to her side’s rescue by tipping round the post a low shot from Aya Miyama that seemed destined for the bottom corner. It was a fantastic save, but Angerer somehow contrived to better it just seconds later when she leapt to her left to claw away another goal-bound effort from the Japan forward.
The weary-looking Germans, for their part, failed to create a single clear-cut opportunity of note in a first half that belonged completely to their unfancied Asian opponents.
However, Silvia Neid’s team have a well-deserved reputation for being able to grind out results even when they are not at their best, and the introduction of three young substitutes early in the second half provided them with the spark to do just that.
Of all the replacements, the introduction of Kosovo-born Bajramaj undoubtedly made the biggest impact, with the talented youngster firing Germany in front on 69 minutes from an acute angle after Kerstin Garefrekes’ initial header had been parried clear.
Then, with the clock ticking down and Japan searching frantically for an equaliser, Bajramaj sealed Germany’s place on the podium with a superbly-executed second, cutting in from the left and drilling a low shot just inside the left-hand post with just three minutes remaining.
