USA's Hope Solo hits out at the Sweden team after Olympics defeat

USA women's goalkeeper Hope Solo has blasted the Sweden team after the world champions' bid for a fourth straight Olympic gold ended.

Sweden progressed to their first ever Olympics semi-final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage ousted the US team she led to gold in 2008 and 2012.

The defeat was too much to take for the outspoken USA stopper though.

"We played a bunch of cowards," Solo said. "The better team did not win today. I strongly believe that. I think you saw American heart. You saw us give everything we had today."

Star striker Alex Morgan and substitute Christen Press missed penalties before Lisa Dahlkvist converted the winning spot-kick despite Solo's best efforts to put her off by changing gloves to delay Dahlkvist's effort.

"It is ok to be coward if you win," Sundhage said in response to the USA 'keeper.

"What she did was an act of panic," said Swedish 'keeper Hedvig Lindahl of Solo's time-wasting tactics before the final penalty.

USA coach Jill Ellis tried to diffuse the row. She said: "They executed her game plan very well. It's a matter of knowing how to use all the resources you have.

"And finally the most important thing is the result, not how to play."

Meanwhile, Brazil edged past Australia in a marathon penalty shootout despite a miss from star Marta in Friday's quarter-finals.

Following 120 minutes without a goal in Belo Horizonte, both teams found the net with their first four penalties.

But Brazil's bid for a first gold medal looked lost when national hero Marta saw her effort saved by Lydia Williams.

The five-time World Player of the Year was on her knees in tears of relief seconds later, though, as Barbara parried Katrina Gorry's spot-kick to keep the hosts alive.

Another five penalties were scored before Barbara produced more heroics to turn Alanna Kennedy's shot behind for a 7-6 win and spark wild scenes of celebration.

Canada maintained their perfect record in Brazil to set up a semi-final with Germany in Belo Horizonte thanks to Sophie Schmidt's winner in a 1-0 win over France.