Portilho nets winner as Brazil end hopes of France to make semi-final

Brazil edged out France 1-0 in a dramatic game and progressed to the semi-finals. France were the better team overall but were left to rue unused chances while Brazil scored with their first shot on target through Gabi Portilho on 82 minutes.

France started the game the more forward-minded side and there was instant drama when they were awarded a penalty 11 minutes in after Delphne Cascarino was brought down by Tarciane.

However, a lengthy delay and a VAR check for a possible offside followed until, five minutes later, Sarkina Karchaoui stepped up to take it. She aimed for the bottom left-hand corner, but Brazil keeper Lorena dived down and saved.

Brazil unearthed some attacking spirit, but, like France before them, struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The best opportunities for both sides thus far finally arrived in quick succession through corners, first when Rafaelle Souza’s attempted overhead kick was defended, and then in a sensational delivery from France’s Selma Bacha and a header from her team-mate Griedge Mbock Bathy that rattled the crossbar.

Finally, France ended the first half with the best chance from open play yet when Grace Geyoro sent a ball forward into the path of Cascarino. Lorena read it well though, came out of her goal and gathered to keep it goalless at the break.

Brazil had the brighter start to the second half and made the first impression when a cross from Adriana was tipped away by French keeper Picaud. Yasmim kept it in and picked out Jheniffer in the box, but the striker couldn’t direct her header on target.

From there, France quickly gathered momentum and put together a series of great chances, especially so through a beautiful high cross to the back post area from Cascarino that found Marie-Antionette Katoto who put a header just over the crossbar.

Brazil interrupted France’s rhythm on 63 minutes when clumsy footwork from Wendie Renard allowed Portilho to pass to Kerolin who played it right back into her team-mate who dragged her shot, looking for the far corner, but put it just wide.

The momentum was now clearly with the hosts though and chance after chance followed, Bacha, Cascarino, and Karchaoui the key players for France. However, they kept missing by inches and a great performance from Lorena meant the scoreline stayed on 0-0.

Completely against the run of play, Brazil took the lead on 82 minutes. An error at the back from France, failing to deal with a shot to nothing from Adriana, allowed Portilho to pick the ball up, charge and slot it past Picaud with a beautiful finish.

France threw everything at their opponents and had an unanswered handball claim in stoppage time, but the hosts could just not find an equaliser, despite 18 minutes of additional time being played.

The final whistle confirmed the win for Brazil who progress to the semi-finals where they will face Spain. Meanwhile, the tournament is over for hosts France.

Marta’s career continues for at least another two games. Brazil star Marta made headlines before the match even started, first by announcing the end of her career after the Paris Games and then by her red card versus Spain that saw her suspended for the quarter-final. With Brazil’s underwhelming performance, it looked for a long time like the send-off might turn out to be the last thing we ever see of her on a football pitch which would have been a truly anti-climactic end to an illustrious career. However, Portilho’s late winner kept Brazil in the tournament and with that continued Marta’s playing career for at least another two games. Having her back on the pitch might just give Brazil the spark they lacked today and invigorate their quest for a medal in Paris.

All that was missing from Cascarino’s game today was a goal.

The striker was all over the pitch and involved in most of France’s attacking play, creating chances and taking them herself as well.

In what by all but result was a superior performance from France, Cascarino was key throughout.

France: Picaud 6, De Almeida 5, Mbock 7, Renard 6, Bacha 8, Toletti 5, Karchaoui 7, Geyoro 6, D. Cascarino 9, Baltimore 6, Katoto 7

SUBS: Dali 5, Diani 5, Le Sommer 7

Brazil: Lorena 8, Yasmim 6, Rafaelle 9, Tarciane 5, Thais 4, Adriana 5, Ana Vitoria 5, Duda Sampaio 4, Jheniffer 5, Gabi Portilho 8, Gabi Nunes 5

SUBS: Tamires 5, Kerolin 5, Ludmila 4, Angelina 4, Lauren 4

15′ FRANCE 0-0 BRAZIL – Solo effort from Cascarino who storms towards the goal but is brought down in the box by Tarciane. The ref points to the spot. Karchaoui steps up but there is a lengthy delay for unclear reasons. In the end, there is a VAR check for a possible offside and the penalty is confirmed. Almost five minutes later, Karchaoui finally takes the penalty, aims for the bottom left-hand corner and Lorena is in place to save.

33′ FRANCE 0-0 BRAZIL – Brazil get on the break, cheaply given away by France, and achieve a corner. Yasmim delivers and picks out Ana Vitoria, but she can’t get enough control on her header. Best chance for Brazil yet.

39′ FRANCE 0-0 BRAZIL – Corner comes in for France, brilliantly delivered by Bacha, and Mbock rises for the header. Desperately unlucky, it rattles the cross bar.

58′ FRANCE 0-0 BRAZIL – Beautiful high cross into the box from Cascarino who guides it to the back post area where she finds Katoto. However, Katoto can’t direct her header on target and puts it just over the crossbar – what a chance for France!

63′ FRANCE 0-0 BRAZIL – Clumsy footwork from Renard allows Gabi Portilho to pass to Kerolin who plays back into Gabi Portilho who is free her for a shot on target. She drags her shot, looking for the far corner, but puts it just wide.

82′ GOAL! FRANCE 0-1 BRAZIL – Completely against the run of play, Brazil take the lead. An error at the back from France, failing to deal with a shot to nothing from Adriana, allows Gabi Portilho to pick the ball up, charge and slot it past Picaud with a beautiful finish.

No shot on target for Brazil until 82 minutes in and that shot was the goal. While France had the far higher amount of chances, the only one that matters in the end is the one that’s converted.