Brazil 4 - 2 Spain. 

Brazil channelled their own version of the ‘Crazy Gang’ tactics to tip out Spain in the semi-final of the women’s football at the Olympics.

On a dramatic evening at the State Velodrome in Marseille, a Spain team featuring Arsenal’s Laia Codina and Mariona Caldentey lost to Arthur Elias’ determined side. 

Despite hotly-tipped Spain coming off the back of winning the World Cup and the Nations League, Elias’ Brazilian team had other ideas. 

An Irene Paredes own goal put Brazil on their path to a stunning victory, with Gabi Portilho notching a second moments before the interval, to shock the team which many saw as favourites for the gold medal.

With 19 minutes remaining Adriana make it 3-0 to Brazil, before Duda Sampaio headed into her own goal to reduce the deficit at 3-1, and give Spain a modicum of hope.

However, Kerolin raced clear in the first of 15 added minutes to hit Brazil's fourth, before Salma Paralluelo grabbed a late consolation to make it 4-2. 

Laia Codina and Mariona Caldentey

Spain lined-up with the redoubtable Gunners pair in their starting XI, but despite the loss, neither disappointed, with Codina being the stand-out performer in boss Montse Tome’s team - which it must be said, stuttered from back to front, and from start to finish. 

Hugely calm when put under pressure, the impressive Codina was always willing to accept the ball from goalkeeper Cata Coll, while the talented 24-year-old’s range of passing out from the back was outstanding.

Twice in quick succession in the first half the defender, who arrived at the Emirates last summer, spread the play, releasing some of Spain’s best attacks down the right side. 

Caldentey had a quieter match as Brazilian physicality went unpunished throughout the first half - but the decorated former Barcelona forward showed plenty of reasons why Arsenal signed her a month ago. 

Calm under pressure, similar to her Spain and Arsenal teammate, World Cup winner Caldentey took the ball brilliantly into her feet from several goal-kicks before turning her defender. 

A constant presence across the Spain forward line, the 28-year-old saw a lot more of the ball in the second half. 

Unfortunately for Spain, despite a late attempt at a comeback, Tome’s side left themselves open at the back, with Brazil successfully exploiting the extra space twice in the last 15 minutes, through late goals from Adriana and Kerolin, to seal their triumph. 

There will be more than one commentator on the Iberian Peninsula ruing the lack of clear chances that Spain created, despite their dominance in possession, while reflecting on how Brazil hit them on the counter-attack. Crazy Gang tactics indeed. 

So, while Spain now head home, Brazil continue to the final to play Team USA, Arsenal fans have a lot to look forward to with Codina and Caldentey donning the red and white for the start of the new WSL next month. 

Spain - and Arsenal’s pair - will now play Germany for the bronze medal in Lyon on Friday.

Fergus McCarthy for the Gooner Fanzine in Marseille

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