Hosts Brazil were agonisingly denied a place in the final of the women s football tournament at Rio 2016, courtesy of a penalty shoot-out defeat to Sweden.
Despite being on the front foot for the vast majority of Tuesday s match at the Maracana, Brazil were unable to break the deadlock against a team they beat 5-1 in the group stage.
After 120 minutes of goalless action, Sweden ran out 4-3 winners on penalties. Pia Sundhage s team will now face Germany, 2-0 winners over Canada, in Friday s final.
Silver medallists at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, Brazil had high hopes of going one better on home soil, particularly after Sweden eliminated two-time reigning champions the United States in the last eight.
That win also came in a shoot-out, the approach of S…