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New York Times
03-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
A head-butt, penalty kick and Marta magic: How Brazil topped Colombia for 9th Copa América title
Brazil's ninth Copa América Femenina title couldn't possibly have been scripted better. Even if the 2025 championship faceoff with Colombia, which ended 4-4 in regulation and 5-4 in penalties, had been dreamed up in a writers' room, the draft would have been sent back to the drawing board for its indulgent lack of believability. Advertisement It was, by significant distance, the most thrilling of the three continental tournament finals that took place in the last two months: eight total goals, which included a headbutt and subsequent penalty kick, an own goal and a last-gasp Marta banger sent the game into extra time. The 39-year-old legend scored a second goal in the first of the two 15-minute periods to bring Brazil closer to victory at 4-3, but that, too, was answered with a sublime free kick by Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos to level it again. Every penalty kick from the 2025 Copa America Femenina Final 🇨🇴🇧🇷🎥 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 3, 2025 The penalties offered an entirely new framework for drama as each side's keeper saved the spot kicks of two of the goal scorers during the match, Santos and Marta. It took seven rounds of penalties to decide Brazil's fate, with goalkeeper Lorena's save closing the curtain on the most thrilling match in the tournament's history. After a campaign that saw scant crowds in the stands across Ecuador, the cinematic final drew the biggest attendance of the tournament by far with 23,798 tickets sold, though a tournament spokesperson added the total attendance was likely closer to 24,000 with the distribution of complimentary tickets. Spectators leaned heavily in favor of Colombia, and their heartbreak, it must be said, was earned: Colombia led on three separate occasions throughout the crunching matchup, with stunning goals by star strikers Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramírez, who put on two of the strongest performances of the game. Their efforts sandwiched a perplexing own goal by Brazilian defender Tarciane, setting the stage for Marta's thrilling equalizer in the last second of stoppage time. Colombia's relentless pressure in their attacking third paid off when 20-year-old Linda Caicedo opened the scoring in the 25th minute, setting the chaotic tone. Up until this moment, Brazil had managed to contain Caicedo and 26-year-old Mayra Ramirez, consistently beating them to the ball and keeping them from making any meaningful connections. The lethal pair managed to break through twice when Colombia needed it most. Advertisement Caicedo, a dangerous threat due to her tactical prowess and critical awareness on the pitch, is capable of dribbling through a sea of defenders, but, for Colombia's first goal, all she needed was patience and some Ramirez magic. Ramirez managed to find the loose ball in a crowded box, pulling Brazil's defenders towards her. Her strength was on full display. Now dangerously alone, Caicedo waited. All Ramirez needed to do was tap the ball to Caicedo, who calmly placed the ball in Brazil's net. The pair connected again in the 88th minute; this time, it was Ramirez who was alone in front of the goal. A backheel from Ramirez to Caicedo ignited the play, with Caicedo then carrying the ball confidently back towards Brazil's defensive end once again. Caicedo only needed a quick tap to Ramirez, who shot the ball across the net and past Lorena, Brazil's goalkeeper. Chaos erupted as Colombia went up 3-2. The Chelsea forward in this moment only looked for Caicedo, who she quickly embraced. This deadly pairing carried Colombia through this historic match and will carry this national team through its inevitable bright future. Though Colombia did not win the Copa América title it so bravely fought for, Las Cafeteras gave Brazil, long considered the best team in South American women's football, a challenge that no one on the continent will soon forget. Marta's PK is saved 😱 🇧🇷: ✅❌✅✅❌🇨🇴: ✅✅❌❌ — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 2, 2025 Even in the friendliest of circumstances, a meeting between Brazil and Colombia is guaranteed to be gritty and personal. As proud South American teams, each is known to bear their fangs when provoked, but against each other, those fangs were part of their starting XIs. In this way, the opening minutes of the first half were standard procedure, full of hefty shoulder-to-shoulder 'greetings' and sneaky moments of psychological warfare outside the center official Dione Rissios' watch. But when Colombia assumed the front foot early on and scored in the 25th minute, Brazil found themselves in a deeply unfamiliar position: trailing for the first time not only in their 2025 Copa América Femenina campaign, but since 2014 in this tournament. Advertisement From that moment, the mutual physicality in the game curdled into something more pointed with animosity. Between the 32nd and 40th minutes, two Colombian players (Lorena Bedoya Durango and Carolina Arias) and one Brazilian (Tarciane) earned yellow cards, prompting Brazilian manager Artur Elias to institute a rare, three-way, first-half substitution, ostensibly to calm the game down. During the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Colombian goalkeeper Tapia was also shown a yellow, all of which felt like foreshadowing for defender Jorelyn Carabalí, who headbutted Brazilian forward Gio Garbelini inside the penalty box. After a lengthy VAR check, Carabalí was shown a merciful and surprising yellow, and Brazil earned a penalty kick. Angelina went top bins with confident ease to draw the eight-time Copa champions level just before halftime. It did not matter that Marta entered this championship game in the 82nd minute. The 39-year-old striker was the ammo that Brazil kept in its back pocket, knowing she'd deliver when the team needed her the most — and that's exactly what she did. The tournament appeared to be over, with Colombia on its way to winning its first Copa América. Then Marta, somehow, in the 96th minute, in the final possible second of stoppage time, scored what will go down as one of the most iconic goals of her storied career. She found a loose ball outside the goalie's box and drilled it past Colombia's goalkeeper in a stunning display of Marta magic. The forward was quickly dogpiled on by her teammates, as the stadium erupted. She later scored again in the 105th minute, somehow finding a touch on the ball after it missed her head. This gave Brazil its first lead of the game. It did not matter that Marta would go on to miss a penalty. She came back from retirement to be on this stage because she knows she still has so much left to give Brazil and the beautiful game. Advertisement There's no denying how much this still means for Marta, who was in tears after the final whistle. Brazil just won its ninth Copa América title, and one of the first things she did was console Colombian players on this pitch. A moment of pure class by one of the greatest players of all time, and a moment no one on this pitch will likely forget.
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Diego Luna scores two early goals to lead US past Guatemala into CONCACAF Gold Cup final
Guatemala pulls one back to make it 2-1! 🇬🇹 The crowd in St. Louis is loving it! 🗣️ — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Freese parried José Morales' shot toward the far post in the second minute of stoppage time. Matt Freese with the save as Guatemala tries to level things in stoppage time 🧤🇺🇸 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) The US plays defending champion Mexico or Honduras for the title Sunday at Houston, the Americans' last competitive match before their World Cup opener next June. El Tri has won nine Gold Cups, the US seven, and Canada one. The 16th-ranked Americans advanced to the Gold Cup final for the 13th time. All five losses in the final have been to Mexico. Advertisement The No. 106 Guatemala, which has never reached the final, outshot the U.S. 13-1 in the last 30 minutes of the first half. Luna got his first goal after Alex Freeman crossed for Malik Tillman. He touched the ball to Luca de la Torre, whose shot was spilled by goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro. Luna reacted quickly and switched the ball from his right foot to his left, then shot over Navarro's outstretched right hand. Luca with a rip. Luna with the finish. A STATEMENT START! — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) Eleven minutes later, Luna received a cross-field pass from Tillman about 40 yards out, dribbled in, got by defender José Carlos Pinto with a stepover, and put the ball inside the near post from the edge of the penalty area. Advertisement Diego Luna bagged a brace in the first 15 minutes of the match for the — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Guatemala's starters included a pair of former US players: 29-year-old forward Rubio Rubin made seven appearances for the Americans from 2014-18 before switching in 2022, and 28-year-old defender Aaron Herrera made one in 2021 and then changed in 2023. Rubin put the ball past Freese in the 29th minute but the goal was disallowed for offside. Freese made a kick save on Rubin in the 34th.
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
United States men's soccer quiets the negativity, for a moment anyway, by thrashing Trinidad in Gold Cup
Victory in the Group D opener ended a four-game losing streak and came after days of controversy over Christian Pulisic's desire to rest during the Gold Cup and Pochettino not including the star in a pair of pre-tournament friendlies the attacker offered to play in. Advertisement Tillman scored in the 16th and 41st minutes for his first two international goals, both following giveaways by Alvin Jones, and East Hartford's Patrick Agyemang scored his fourth international goal in the 44th when Luna's shot deflected off his foot. Another beauty from the — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) 'It was in our hands to show a reaction and I think we've done it today,' Tillman said. 'We played a good game and it was nice to bounce back, have a good start to the tournament.' Brenden Aaronson added his ninth goal in the 82nd and Haji Wright his fifth just 1 minute, 13 seconds later for the 16th-ranked Americans, who drew just 12,610 to PayPal Park. 'Malik is a talented player. It's obvious that everyone can see,' Pochettino said. 'October, November, when we met for the first time I think it was difficult to create this relationship that the player need[s] and the coach need[s] to trust and to trust each other. ... I think now after a few weeks together I really start to understand him and he starts to understand us. And he's very special, a very special talent and a very special kid.' Advertisement Luna, a 21-year-old who impressed Pochettino during his debut in January when he insisted he stay on the field with a broken nose, was playing not far from where he grew up and said he had gotten tickets for about 30 family and friends. HEARD YA ALL DAY, SAN JOSE! 👏 — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) 'It's especially cool to perform and do this in front of my family and all the people that have worked for me and helped me and suffered for me to be able to be in this position,' he said Saturday. Luna ran onto Jones' back pass, dribbled down the left flank, and crossed to Tillman for the second goal, then shot from just inside the penalty area for the goal that glanced off Tillman for a 3-0 lead. 'His performance was really good. He showed his character,' Pochettino said. The Americans have won their group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, along with a second-place finish behind Panama in 2011, and improved their group stage record to 41 wins, one loss, and five draws. They play invited guest Saudi Arabia on Thursday at Austin, Texas, then close group play on June 22 against Haiti at Arlington, Texas. Related : Matt Freese was in goal in place of former Revolution star Matt Turner, who had started 14 consecutive competitive matches for the US and 23 of 24 dating to the 2022 World Cup. The lone exception was a Gold Cup group stage game against St. Kitts and Nevis in 2023. Advertisement Pochettino said he wanted to create competition for Turner, who didn't get into a Crystal Palace match after March 1. The coach said Turner told him he was disappointed with the decision but understood it and would compete to get playing time.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal win second UEFA Nations League title
Ronaldo is in tears after Portugal's Nations League victory ????????? — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 8, 2025 Ronaldo left the game in the 88th minute, shortly before regulation concluded, due to an apparent injury. He was subbed out for Goncalo Ramos. Ruben Neves scored the winning kick during a shootout after Alvaro Morata had missed a costly attempt for Spain. Martin Zubimendi scored the game's opening goal to give Spain the 1-0 lead in the 21st minute of the game. Nuno Mendes helped Portugal answer quickly, scoring in the 26th minute off an assist from Pedro Neto. Spain held a 2-1 lead at halftime after Mikel Oyarzabal added a goal off an assist from Pedri. For Portugal, the victory represented its second UEFA Nations League final victory. Ronaldo won the first UEFA Nations League final in 2019 over the Netherlands, 1-0, on a goal from Goncalo Guedes. France (2021) and Spain (2023) also have won UEFA Nations League titles. Portugal vs. Spain UEFA Nations League final highlights The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
Boston Globe
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Portugal beats Spain in penalty shootout to win Nations League
Ronaldo had kept Portugal in the game when he equalized in the 61st minute with his record-extending 138th international goal after Mikel Oyarzabal had given Spain a halftime lead. 40. Years. Old. 🐐 More angles of Ronaldo's equalizer for Portugal in the UEFA Nations League Final 🇵🇹 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Oyarzabal squeezed the ball past Costa in the 45th after Pedri played him in. 'It's a shame and it's tough, but with time it will be more appreciated,' Oyarzabal said. 'We struggled more in the second half, we were tired. The substitutions helped them. But we are proud of our team and we will fight to be close to winning a title again.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Spain, still the European champion, failed to display the cohesion and fluency in attack that put five goals past France in the semifinal on Thursday. Advertisement There was an element of fortune about the opening goal scored by Martin Zubimendi in the 21st when Portugal's defense failed to deal with Lamine Yamal's cross. Nuno Mendes leveled five minutes later when he drilled a low shot inside the far post. The 22-year-old left back was the player of the match — providing the cross that was deflected kindly for Ronaldo to score his equalizer, keeping Yamal in check, then confidently scoring his penalty in the shootout. Advertisement Ronaldo was already off by then. He had gone off, exhausted, to standing ovations and a hug from coach Roberto Martínez in the 88th. In his previous game, Ronaldo led Portugal to its first win over Germany for 25 years. For Mendes and Paris Saint-Germain teammates Gonçalo Ramos, João Neves, and Vitinha, it was their second trophy in a little more than a week after winning the Every penalty from the UEFA Nations League Final between Portugal and Spain 🎥 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Kylian Mbappé led France to third place earlier Sunday with a 2-0 win over host nation Germany in Stuttgart. The Real Madrid star scored his 50th goal for France before setting up the other as Les Bleus rallied after a lethargic start.
