Marta Steals Show As Brazil Win 9th Copa America In Extraordinary Final

Forbes

6 hours ago

A week after England won the UEFA Women's Euro final, Brazil also retained their continental title in a dramatic denouement decided by a penalty shoot-out.
After a heart-stopping 4-4 draw in the Copa America Femenina final in Quito, Ecuador, Brazil came through an equally dramatic penalty shoot-out, eventually winning 5-4 in sudden death.
In the tenth edition of the tournament, first held in 1991, it is now the ninth time that Brazil has triumphed. Since losing out to Argentina in 2006, they have now won an unprecedented fifth successive title. Four of those successes have come at the expense of Colombia, who have never come closer to their first title than last night.
With just two minutes remaining of regulation time, Chelsea's Mayra Ramirez gave Colombia the lead for the third occasion on the night, It seemed like the title of South American champions may have finally shifted. Yet, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, the eternal Marta, now 39 years of age, slammed home a stunning equaliser to take the match into extra time.
With her penalty in the semi-final against Uruguay, Marta had scored a goal for a 21st different calendar year. Now in extra time, she scored again to this time put Brazil on the brink of the title. With five minutes remaining Leicy Santos scored for Colombia to tie the game up again.
In the penalty shoot-out, like England a week earlier, Brazil missed first. However, Colombia then failed to score two of their spot kicks and the stage was set for Marta to win the Copa America with her penalty. Remarkably, she missed the opportunity and the shoot-out went on into sudden death.
After three more penalties were converted, Brighton's Jorelyn Carabalí was denied by Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena and the holders retained their title once more.
After the match, Marta, who has now scored 122 international goals, was awarded the trophy for the Player of the Tournament in what is almost certainly her last Copa America Femenina, although that has been said before.
On her missed penalty, she said after the game, "I asked God not to punish me so much. I entered the game as I was, was blessed with the equalizer, and then another. And then in the penalty shootout, I had the chance to close it out and missed. But I have these wonderful girls. I came back very shaken after the penalty kick, and they made me believe we would make it, that Lorena would save it."
Brazil's Amanda Gutierres had scored five goals earlier in the tournament but was not selected to start the final. She came off the bench to score Brazil's second equaliser which helped earn her the award as the competition's top goalscorer.
She believes 'a final like this is what women's soccer and the Copa América need. And now I'm realizing a dream of winning a title with the national team, a testament to Arthur Elias's work. I dedicate this to everyone who was part of the group and couldn't make it, to the entire coaching staff, and to all the Brazilians.'
As a result of reaching the final, both Brazil and Colombia will qualify automatically to represent South America in the 2028 Women's Football Tournamrnt at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. As South American champions, Brazil have also earned themselves the right to take on England once more in the ne new UEFA-CONMEBOL showpiece, the Finalissima.
England won the first edition in 2023, triumphing over Brazil at Wemble Stadium also after a penalty shoot-out. With the men's Finalissima between European champions Spain and South American champions Argentina still to be scheduled into the calendar, there are doubts however as to whether another edition will ever take place.