The World Cup champions barely escaped the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinal round with their medal hopes intact.
The hosts? Not so much.
Spain was nearly stunned by Colombia before outlasting Las Cafeteras in penalties, while France was surprised by Marta-less Brazil.
Elsewhere, the United States women's national team made it past Japan through Trinity Rodman's extra-time golazo, and Germany ended Canada's run in penalties.
All four remaining teams are ranked top 10 by FIFA, with No. 1 Spain, No. 4 Germany, No. 5 United States and No. 9 Brazil winning on Saturday.
2024 Paris Olympics women's soccer semifinal schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 6
USWNT vs Germany: 12 p.m. ET
Spain vs Brazil: 3 p.m. ET
United States vs. Japan
It was a nervy challenge, but the U.S. women’s national team did just enough after 120 minutes of play to escape with a 1-0 win against Japan in a quarterfinal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Trinity Rodman scored a flashy goal in the 105th minute as the 22-year-old took down a brilliant diagonal pass from Crystal Dunn, then cut past a defender and onto her left foot. Rodman curled the ball from the edge of the box into the top left corner of the goal
It was a coming-of-age moment for Rodman, proving that she can be a player to count on in critical moments of a match. She is now the youngest player in USWNT history to score a goal in an Olympic knockout match.
The USWNT was able to see out its narrow 1-0 lead to advance to the semifinals, where it will face Germany. -- Leo Santos
Spain vs. Colombia
Colombia pushed Spain to the limit but lost a two-goal lead en route to an exit in penalty kicks at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Catalina Coll saved Colombia's first penalty and Las Cafeteras sent their third effort over the bar as the World Cup champions survived with a 2-2 (4-2 pens) win at the Parc Oympique Lyonnais and will meet Brazil in Tuesday's semifinal round.
Colombia scored early in each half to take a 2-0 lead, as Leicy Santos had a goal and assisted Mayra Ramirez.
Ramirez celebrated her return from a red card suspension with a mile-marker goal for the Colombia program in the 12th minute.
It looked like Jennifer Hermoso's 79th-minute rebound goal would be too little, too late for the World Cup champions, who at that point could not turn a 21-6 shot advantage, an 11-1 corners gap, and 61% possession into a second goal.
Stoppage time changed that. Salma Paralluelo cut an incisive pass toward the penalty spot from the left flank, and captain Irene Paredes zipped into the box to snap a low equalizer over the line.
Spain out-attempted Colombia 32-7 for the game.
— Nick Mendola
Canada vs. Germany
It took a penalty shootout to separate Canada and Germany, and it was the Europeans who were victorious in a 4-2 result.
Both sides had plenty of clear-cut chances to take the lead in regulation. Canada managed to put up 23 shots, but only five were on goal, while Germany logged 11 shots with only one on target. Canada's Adriana Leon failed to capitalize on a giveaway by the Germans in the 87th minute as she retrieved the ball and was through on goal with just the goalie to beat, but Ann-Katrin Berger was able to make the save. Germany's Marina Hegering almost put the dagger in Canada, but her header in stoppage skimmed the crossbar as she narrowly missed the target from close range.
Extra time saw neither team take risks to find the winning goal and the game eventually made its way to a penalty shootout. Berger proved to be the hero for the Germans as she not only saved two penalty kicks, but also converted the game-winning one to ensure her team moved on to the next round.
Germany will now play against the U.S. at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
France vs Brazil
If someone says they saw this coming, question everything else they've stated as fact.
Brazil, missing Marta and boasting a negative goal differential as a third-place team, played hosts France — the No. 2 team in the world — and walked away 1-0 winners.
Brazil keeper Lorena Leita saved an early France penalty and Gabi Portilho, who had one goal in 21 previous caps, feasted on a late France error to make it 1-0.
France had an absurd 18 minutes and 30 seconds of stoppage time but could not find an equalizer, and will leave all hope of a host nation medal for soccer to the men.
— Nick Mendola