Six-time World Player of the Year, Marta, led Brazil to their ninth Women’s Copa America title after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the Sunday morning final in Ecuador.
At 39, Marta came off the bench to score twice including a crucial stoppage-time equalizer — as Brazil fought back from behind three times before winning 5-4 on penalties. The match had ended 4-4 after 90 minutes and extra time.
She was introduced in the 82nd minute and scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to bring Brazil level at 3-3. In extra time, she found the net again to give Brazil a 4-3 lead — their first of the match. But Colombia’s Leicy Santos equalized in the 115th minute, pushing the contest into a shootout.
Goalkeeper Lorena Da Silva emerged as the hero in the shootout, saving two penalties to seal Brazil’s fifth consecutive Copa America title — and their fourth final win over Colombia in the last five editions.
Marta, a legend of the sport, has represented Brazil in six World Cups and six Olympic Games. She has scored 122 goals in 206 international appearances.
The Brazilian women’s team has now won eight of the nine Copa America editions and remains the dominant force in South American women’s football. Their best FIFA Women’s World Cup result was a runner-up finish in 2007, and they have reached the Olympic final three times.
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