KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Marta, probably the greatest woman footballer of all time, has won Olympic Games silver twice over but never gold. Against the odds, her dream remains alive.

Last Wednesday Marta was sent off for a dangerous high kick as Brazil lost 2-0 to Spain but somehow scrambled into the quarterfinals as a third-placed ‘lucky losers’. Their ‘reward’ was a knockout tie against fancied hosts France but without their suspended six-time women’s world player of the year.

The 38-year-old’s planned retirement, later this year, threatened to be an anti-climax. But that was to reckon without her team-mates.

Brazil went up to Nantes and somehow held out for 82 minutes. Keeper Lorena saved an early penalty from Sakina Karchaoui and the crossbar denied Griedge Mbock Bathy. Then, with eight minutes remaining, Brazil grabbed the winner through Corinthians’ Gabi Portilho. Hence they confront Spain for a second time on Tuesday with yet another medal chance opening up.

Marta, of course, will be back in action to continue chasing down that dream.

Earlier Spain, the women’s world champions, hit back from 2-0 down against Colombia to draw 2-2 and win a penalty shootout 4-2 in Lyon.

Goals from Mayra Ramirez and Leicy Santos put Colombia in control before Jenni Hermoso pulled one back in the 79th minute and Irene Paredes struck in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The extra 30 minutes produced no further goals and the inevitable shootout. Colombia’s Catalina Usme and Liana Salazar both failed, allowing Aitana Bonmati to send Spain into their first Olympic semi-final.

The other women’s semi-final will see Germany take on the United States.

Germany needed penalties themselves to defeat Tokyo gold medallists Canada 4-2 after a goalless draw. Match-winner was goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. She saved from Ashley Lawrence and Adriana Leon before converting the winning kick herself.

The US, four-time Olympic champions, were also held goalless over 90 minutes by Japan before Trinity Rodman struck an extra-time winner in front of a Parc des Princes crowd including former captain Megan Rapinoe and rapper Snoop Dogg.

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