🏅 Olympics: Brazil end France’s dream; drama for USA, Spain and Germany

Women’s football took centre-stage at the Olympics again on Saturday with an action-packed quarter finals.

Here’s what went down.

Brazil end France’s Olympic dream

Scorers: Portilho 82′

France’s Olympics dream ended with a 1-0 reversal to Brazil in Nantes.

The host nation spurned an early chance to take the lead when Sakina Karchaoui missed from the penalty spot.

Les Bleues were made to pay for their profligacy eight minutes from time when Gabi Portilho fired home after a surging run.

Arthur Elias’ side will now take on Spain for a place in the final.

Germany set up USA semi-final

Germany will take on the United States in the semi-final after dumping Canada out in a 4-2 penalty shootout.

Lea Schüller had the best chance of the first half as she hooked an effort over the crossbar from close range.

A livelier second half saw Adriana Leon spurn a gilt-edged chance for the Canucks before she later sliced a shot wide.

Alexandra Popp went closest for Germany in normal time but failed to connect with Schüller’s header across the face of goal.

As Saturday’s third quarter-final entered extra time, Sydney Lohmann crashed an effort against the crossbar from Felicitas Rauch’s free kick.

In the shootout, both countries produced peerless opening kicks before Ashley Lawrence, Lohmann and Leon all missed with poor attempts.

Anna-Katrin Berger appeared to have denied Janine Beckie’s potentially decisive attempt but saw the ball squirm under her and over the line.

The Gotham goalkeeper made amends by sending the Frauenteam through with a clinical kick to set up a reunion with her ex-Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.

Penalty heartache for Colombia

Scorers: Hermoso 79′, Paredes 90+7′; Ramírez 12′, Santos 52′

Spain reached the last four after a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Colombia.

Mayra Ramírez had broken the deadlock for the Powerpuff Girls after 12 minutes with a well-taken solo effort.

La Roja’s woes were compounded in the second half when Leicy Santos turned the ball home after Lela Coll parried Linda Caicedo’s initial effort.

But they narrowed the gap in the closing stages as Jenni Hermoso side-footed home from close range to give Montserrat Tomé’s side fresh hope.

Deep into ten minutes’ added time, captain Irene Paredes pounced to take the pulsating quarter-final clash in Lyon into extra time.

With nothing separating the sides after 120 minutes, misses by Catalina Usme and Liana Salazar provide costly before Aitana Bonmatí struck the winning spot kick.

USA seal first semi-final spot

Scorers: Rodman 105+2′

The USA sealed the first semi-final spot after a 1-0 win over Japan after extra time.

Japan dominated the first half chances with Mina Tanaka and Miyabi Moriya enjoying their best openings.

The Stars and Stripes returned from the interval with renewed purpose as Malloy Swanson and Rose Lavelle went closest.

But Trinity Rodman finally broke the deadlock at the end of first half extra time with a stunning strike from inside the penalty area.

Emma Hayes’ side have now reached the last four in all bar one of their Olympic outings dating back to 1996.