Marta was sent off in potentially her last game for her country as Brazil were beaten 2-0 by Spain in Group C, slipping to third behind Japan. The defeat means Brazil now hopes to finish as one of the two third-placed sides to progress at Paris 2024. Marta was shown a red card on the stroke of half-time, and Brazil’s woes deepened after goals by Athenea del Castillo and Alexia Putellas.
Goals from Athenea del Castillo and Alexia Putellas, the second of them a beauty, sent world champions Spain into the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as group winners.
Brazil, meanwhile, must wait and see what happens in the final round of Group A fixtures later on Wednesday: if New Zealand fail to beat France by five goals and Canada fail to beat Colombia, they are through; otherwise, they go out.
Both sides had their moments in an entertaining first half, but in the sixth minute of injury time, Marta launched into a head-high challenge as Olga Carmona looked to nod the ball away from her.
It left the referee with no choice: playing her final tournament, the Brazilian icon was sent off and left the pitch in tears – but the sad ending will not taint a wonderful and pioneering career.
Her team now has to play with 10 than Spain, who moved the ball about until, eventually, As Canarinhas folded. On 68 minutes, Del Castillo was in the right spot at the right time to tap home after Lorena showed a cross into her path.
Then, with Brazil worn thin – Antonia also departed the pitch crying, Spain’s lead grew – Putellas gave Spain’s victory some gloss, swinging a stunner into the top corner to finish things off.
