Brazil beat hosts France 1-0 in Nantes to reach the women’s Olympic soccer semifinals and extend the top-level international career of legendary forward Marta.
Marta, a six-time women’s world player of the year, was suspended for the quarterfinal after receiving a red card in Brazil’s loss to Spain in its final group-stage game.
At the time, with Brazil struggling to even make it through the group stage, that looked like being a sad end to the Olympic career of the 38-year-old, who has announced she will retire from international soccer this year.
But after limping through in third place in its group with two losses from three games, Brazil won without the player widely regarded as the best of all time in women’s soccer.
Gabi Portilho. got the decisive goal, bursting through two defenders to finish past keeper Constance Picaud in the 82nd minute to the delight of Marta watching on in the stands.
Brazil, with Marta back from suspension, will face a rematch with Spain in the last four on Tuesday and is guaranteed the chance to play for a medal.
