Sweden beat Brazil in shoot-out to reach women's soccer final

IMAGE: Sweden’s goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl makes a save during the penalty shoot-out against Brazil in the women’s soccer semi-final at the Rio Olympics on Tuesday. Photograph: Bruno Kelly/Reuters

Sweden beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the teams were locked goalless following extra-time on Tuesday to reach the final of the women's football tournament at the Rio Olympics.

Sweden, whose previous best showing at an Olympics was a fourth place finish in 2004, will now face the winner of the other semi-final between Germany and Canada.

Lisa Dahlkvist scored the decisive penalty on Sweden's fifth attempt after Andressa, the youngest player on the Brazil squad, saw her penalty saved by Hedvig Lindahl.

Brazil's Cristiane and Sweden's Kosovare Asllani also had their kicks saved.

IMAGE: Sweden’s players celebrate after beating Brazil in the women's soccer semi-final on Tuesday. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The result was a huge let down for the host nation, who were vastly superior and had the raucous support of a capacity crowd at the Maracana stadium.

Brazil had most of the play throughout as Sweden tried to the same smash and grab tactics that took them past the United States in the quarter-finals.

Brazil had 33 shots at goal, compared to Sweden's six.