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.
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.
Source: Xinhua
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