Athens Olympics runners-up Brazil roared into the 2007 FIFA
Women's World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, upsetting hosts China
4-0 in their Group D second round match.
Brazilian players (in yellow
jerseys) celebrate after beating the Chinese team at the FIFA
Women's World Cup Group D second round match in Wuhan, central
China's Hubei Province on Saturday night, September 15.
With a 5-0 win over New Zealand on Wednesday in the group
opener, traditional soccer giant Brazil boast six points with nine
clean goals and have definitely booked a berth in the
quarterfinals.
China coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors said after the match, "Brazil
is a very strong team with world-class striker Marta."
"We had two scoring chances in the first half but failed to
convert them. And a fatal error led to the defeat," she said.
Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos said, "The reason for the big
win is that the Chinese girls failed to curb Marta."
"They arranged only one player to defend Marta, which was far
from enough," he added.
Striker Marta vieira da Silva, who scored twice, was a nightmare
for the Chinese girls tonight. Her incredible quick pace and
dribbling skills smashed the Chinese defense.
Marta, 21, who won the FIFA Women's World Player of 2006 award,
opened the Brazilian scoring by beating Chinese goalkeeper Han
Wenxia in a solo run in the 42nd minute and driving the ball to the
open goal.
Marta, the Player of the Match, also scored the fourth goal for
Brazil on 70 minutes by dancing past two Chinese defenders on the
right wing, thrusting into the box and firing a flash low shot
home.
Domanski-Lyfors said, "Marta not only has brilliant personal
skills but also has very strong ability to read the match."
The other two goals all came from another Brazilian talented
striker Cristiane Rozeira, the top goalscorer in World Cup 2007
qualifying with 12 goals.
Only two minutes into the second half, a Chinese defender's
error gifted Cristiane a breakthrough in the box. Facing only the
keeper, cool Cristiane aimed for a second and blasted the accurate
low shot into the down-left corner of the goal.
After only two minutes, Chinese keeper Han incredibly threw the
ball to Marta who stood on the edge of the box. The striker
accepted the gift, dribbling five meters and making a timing cross
to Cristiane who slot home at the far post.
The Chinese made so many unbelievable mistakes in the match
which was quite balancing in the first half but lopsided in the
second.
Brazil will meet European giant Denmark in the last round group
matches while China will take on underdogs New Zealand, who lost
5-0 to Brazil and 2-0 Denmark.
Barcellos said, "We will play seriously in the Denmark game. I
promise not to lose the match deliberately."
As China edged Denmark 3-2 on Wednesday, both China and Denmark
collected three points after two rounds. But the Danes stood second
with four goals for and three against, while China placed third
with three goals for and six against.
In the China-Brazil game, China missed two brilliant scoring
chances in the first half, one in 5th minute when Chinese striker
Han Duan jumped high but missed the ball at the goalmouth, and the
other on 25 minutes when midfielder Song Xiaoli's close-range shot
was tipped out by Brazilian goalie Andreia Suntaque.
China has set a target of entering top four of the tournament on
home soil. But Brazil gave them a heavy blow on the night.
(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2007)
