In a stunning upset at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Brazilian women’s national soccer team defeated host nation France 1-0 in the quarterfinals on August 3, 2024. This historic victory marks Brazil’s first win against France in 12 previous encounters, ending a streak of five draws and seven losses.The match’s pivotal moment came in the 82nd minute when Gabi Portilho scored the winning goal, capitalizing on a defensive error by the French team. Brazil’s triumph was further solidified by goalkeeper Lorena’s exceptional performance, including a crucial penalty save in the 12th minute of the first half.Brazil’s victory is particularly impressive given the absence of their star player, Marta, who was suspended after receiving a red card in the previous match against Spain. Coach Arthur Elias’s team demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical acumen, relying on a strong defensive strategy to overcome France’s offensive pressure.The Brazilian team will now face Spain, the current world champions, in the semifinals on Tuesday, August 6, at 16:00 (Brasília time) at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille. This upcoming match will be a rematch of their group stage encounter, where Spain defeated Brazil 2-0.As Brazil continues its pursuit of its first Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer, having previously won silver in Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004, the team’s coach, Arthur Elias, expressed his satisfaction with the quarterfinal result: ‘It was a great day. The team played with a lot of heart and determination, and we were able to get the result we wanted.’
Key points
- Brazil’s women’s soccer team defeated France 1-0 in the Paris 2024 Olympics quarterfinals, their first win against France in 12 encounters.
- Gabi Portilho scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute, while goalkeeper Lorena made a crucial penalty save.
- Brazil will face Spain, the current world champions, in the semifinals on August 6.
Contradictions👾There are minor discrepancies in the reported time of Gabi Portilho’s goal, with some sources stating the 82nd minute and others the 36th minute of the second half.
The 82nd minute appears in more sources and is likely correct.
