Athens Olympic runners-up Brazil whitewashed underdog-looking New Zealand 5-0 in their Group D opener at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Wuhan, China on Wednesday.
Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos said after the game, "The Kiwis focused on their defence today and they almost managed to frozen our ace striker Marta in the first half."
"However, other players' brilliant performance gave full support to Marta and smashed the Kiwis' defence later," he noted.
In the lopsided game, Brazilian midfielder Daniela Alves Lima opened the scoring only 10 minutes into the match on a nearly 25-meter-long shot.
Daniela almost added two more goals to her record in the second half on two clear shots in the penalty area. However, one hit the crossbar and the other was caught by Kiwis keeper Jenny Bindon.
However, shinning Brazilian strikers Cristiane Rozeira, Marta Vieira de Silva and Daniela's partner in the midfield Renata Costa fulfilled the 5-0 clean sweep after the interval.
Cristiane, the top goalscorer in World Cup 2007 qualifying with 12 goals, proved her value today with a scoring blast at the edge of the box on 54 minutes.
The 25-year-old striker, who plays for German club Wolfsburg, was the fire igniter today. She danced past two Kiwis defenders and made a brilliant curving shot near the box just one minute before Daniela's goal.
She was selected as the Player of the Match.
Marta, 21, who won the FIFA Women's World Player of 2006 award, thrusted into the box in the 73th minute, secured a pass, beat defenders and sent a flash low-shot into down right corner of the net.
A super-long shot, at least 35 meters from the goal, was unleashed by Renata on 86 minutes, which stunned all spectators by finding the net.
Kiwis' nightmare was not over as Marta, a world-class striker with scoring instinct, collected her second goal on a low-shot in the box in the injury time.
Marta, the most shinning star in the Brazilian team and on the pitch tonight, showed her amazing dribbling skills in the match, breaking the Kiwis defence many times.
Moreover, Marta's unselfish passing helped her teammates to score and the whole side to enjoy a flying start of their World Cup campaign.
No one doubts that the most skilful Brazilian girls are the favorites for the title.
Minnows New Zealand extended their no-win record at World Cup finals to four. In their first World Cup appearance in 1991, they lost 3-0 to Denmark, 4-0 to Norway, 4-1 to hosts China.
None of New Zealand's players were cautioned in their first World Cup appearance in 1991 in China. But in today's match against Brazil, they committed 11 fouls against Brazil's one and were booked a yellow card.
Source: Xinhua
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