Hilfestellungen » centre showed big improvement

RIO DE JANEIRO -- What is more impressive than eliminating 11 Americans who held the Olympic and World Cup titles?How about silencing tens of thousands of Brazilians on that nations grandest soccer stage?Sweden pulled off its second Olympic surprise by eliminating host Brazil 4-3-in a penalty shootout in the Maracana after the two teams drew 0-0 over 120 minutes.Able to advance to the knockout round only as the third-place team in its group, and beaten 5-1 by Brazil in the process, Sweden now plays for the gold medal and its first major tournament title in womens soccer Friday against the winner of the second semifinal between Germany and Canada.Lisa Dahlkvist converted the final penalty kick to send Sweden through.There is more to come from the Maracana, but here are three thoughts at the final whistle.1. Hedvig Lindahl saves the dayFinally, there might be a goalkeeper of whom Brazilians are less fond than Hope Solo. Quickly making a name for herself in these situations, if she hadnt done so already, Lindahl came up with two saves in the shootout, including one against Andressa in the fifth and final round.That followed 120 minutes in which Lindahl became the subject of the crowds ire for killing time in a game Sweden seemed happy to take to penalties. That included a late save on a free kick when Lindahl genuinely appeared to collide with the post but drew boos when she stayed down to receive attention. She wont mind the lack of love a bit.2. Swedens center backs definitely not cowardsThis really applies to the whole back line, which withstood a genuinely daunting surge in the games opening 20 minutes -- Brazils attack urged on by a crowd in full voice. But watching Nilla Fischer and Linda Sembrant work together under siege was to marvel at how calm and pliable defenders must be under the severest of pressure.Brazil desperately wanted to use its speed to break behind Swedens back line, time and again hitting long diagonal passes to runs designed to stretch and slip behind the defense. And time and again, the outside backs stretched to the breaking point beyond them, Fischer and Sembrant held the line and defused any danger. That Brazil never really found another way to break through was partly its own undoing, but for the second game in a row, Swedens defense frustrated a team with the talent to break down just about any line.3. A scene to rememberThe streets around the Maracana were lined with queuing fans more than three hours before the start of the game, and the sea of yellow and green attire suggested not many of them were there for the morning volleyball quarterfinal between the Netherlands and South Korea at the adjacent arena (although with the Brazilian womens volleyball team in action Tuesday night, the day did offer a unique opportunity for home fans to binge watch the nations best female athletes). Those lines were a sign of the atmosphere to come.There were a few empty seats, particularly in the area of the stands not shaded from the hot sun (which unfortunately were those most easily caught by television cameras), but from the national anthem to the roars of approval each time a Brazilian player slid past a Swedish defender, the crowd was all anyone could hope for in a big game in this stadium.Even at the end, after a few moments of silence settled over the stadium in the aftermath of defeat, the crowd applauded the Brazilian team off the field.Now the hope is that the result wont keep them from coming back -- or keep the Brazilian federation from funding the national team at a level that will allow them to win titles.Johnny Davis Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Tampa Bay Rays Shirts . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/ . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Michael Perez Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Tampa Bay Rays Gear . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St.Duke is the unquestioned preseason No. 1 team, no matter which poll you choose as your guide. But will the Blue Devils cut down the nets at University of Phoenix Stadium for their sixth national title in April? Will Villanova be the first team to repeat since Florida pulled it off in 2007?On the eve of the 2016-2017 collegge basketball season, our ESPN panel of 31 experts gives you its picks for national champion, Final Four participants, player of the year and coach of the year.ddddddddddddHeres how they voted.? ' ' '