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Matchday Three
Quarter-Finalists Found At Rio 2016
by Jeremy Ruane
Eight of the world's top twelve-ranked women's footballing nations have confirmed their spots in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Olympic Women's Football Tournament, following the conclusion of Matchday Three action on August 9.
The quarter-finals take place on Saturday, NZ time, and see the USA taking on Sweden in Brasilia (4am), China and Germany meeting in Salvador (7am), Canada and France clashing in Sao Paulo (10am), and host nation Brazil squaring off against Australia in Belo Horizonte (1pm).
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Group E
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Group F
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Group G
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There wasn't a goal to be seen in either of the final Group E fixtures, which ensured that Brazil, China and Sweden would all advance to the quarter-finals.
The latter pair played out a dour stalemate at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, where chances were at a premium in a match both teams began knowing that parity would see both progress to the last eight.
Brazil, meanwhile, were held to a scoreless draw by a South African side which picked up its first point of the tournament, and would have picked up all three but for a fine save by Aline to deny Thembi Kgatlana's drive, which was bound for the top far corner of the net.
Debinha rattled the woodwork for the Brazilians, who rested the usual suspects and found stiff resistance from South African goalkeeper Roxanne Barker and friends as Banyana Banyana bowed out on a positive note following this match at Manaus' Amazonia Arena.
Details:
Brazil 0, South Africa 0
China 0, Sweden 0
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Canada scored a maiden 2-1 win over Germany at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, coming from behind to do so and finish group play with a perfect three-from-three record to their name.
Melanie Behringer fired the Germans in front with a thirteenth minute penalty, but the Canadians drew level thirteen minutes later through Melissa Tancredi, who fired John Herdman's team in front on the hour against a German side whose finishing lacked accuracy, although they almost nicked a point at the death when Alexandra Popp's header was cleared off the line by Josee Belanger.
Meanwhile, Australia made no race of it against Zimbabwe at the Fonte Nove Arena in Salvador, prevailing 6-1 after Lisa De Vanna had fired "The Matildas" in front just two minutes into the contest.
Clare Polkinghorne doubled their advantage on the quarter hour, and when Alanna Kennedy headed home a free-kick eight minutes before half-time, it was becoming a case of 'by how many'.
Kyah Simon made it four five minutes into the second spell, while Michelle Heyman was introduced to the fray soon after, and promptly scored twice in eleven minutes to leave Alen Stajcic's side six-up after sixty-six minutes.
They failed to add a seventh, however, and paid the price when Emmaculate Msipa struck in stoppage time for the Zimbabweans, a goal which cost Australia a second-placed finish in the group.
Details:
Australia 6 (L. De Vanna (2), C. Polkinghorne (15), A. Kennedy (37), K. Simon (50), M. Heyman (55, 66)), Zimbabwe 1 (E. Msipa (90)) HT 3-0
Canada 2 (M. Tancredi (26, 60)), Germany 1 (M. Behringer (13 pen)) HT 1-1
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Two misjudgements by the usually reliable Hope Solo saw reigning Olympic champions the USA held to a surprise 2-2 draw by Colombia at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus, although they still emerged as group winners.
The USA did all the pressing early doors, but fell behind in the 26th minute when Solo allowed a Cataline Usme free-kick to slip through her hands and give "Las Cafeteras" the lead, much to the delight of the crowd, who urged on the South Americans at every opportunity.
They held their advantage for fifteen minutes, at which point Crystal Dunn turned home the rebound after Carli Lloyd had hit the crossbar. And when Mallory Pugh doubled the USA's advantage on the hour, another routine win looked in order.
Colombia, Usme in particular, had other ideas, and after she had hit the bar with another free-kick, Usme secured the Colombians' first point of the tournament in stoppage time, rifling a third free-kick from an acute angle beyond Solo's flailing arm and into the top far corner of the net to earn the underdogs a famous draw.
There was no such joy for the other underdogs on the night, however, the Football Ferns' hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals evaporating as they were downed 3-0 by France, who played well within themselves throughout proceedings in Salvador.
It wasn't until Eugenie Le Sommer was introduced off the substitute's bench ten minutes before half-time that "Les Bleues" came to life, and within three minutes she had broken the deadlock, firing home the rebound after Elise Bussaglia's swerving drive had hit the post.
The French doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Louisa Cadamuro dashed through from deep to head home an Elodie Thomis cross from eight yards, and in stoppage time the player who, prior to marriage, was known as Louisa Necib, delivered the coup de grace from the penalty spot on a night when the Football Ferns' cautious approach saw them offering little in attack.
Details:
France 3 (E. Le Sommer (38), L. Cadamuro (63, 90 pen)), Football Ferns 0 HT 1-0
USA 2 (C. Dunn (41), M. Pugh (59)), Colombia 2 (C. Usme (26, 90)) HT 1-1
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