Australia showed its amazing quality with a deserved 1-1 with Group C favourites Norway, while hosts China suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to a shining Brazil to make the latter the first team through to the last eight at the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup on Saturday.
The Scandinavians now have four points and as Australia (with 4 points) and Canada (with 3 points) are to face each other in the last round, a draw will send Norway to the last eight. Given the situation, the Aussies also only need a draw to sail to the 1/4 finals.
The most surprising thing is that Australia coach Tom Sermanni made six changes to their starting lineup compared with their first match against Ghana, leaving all the major strikers on the bench. And when Lisa De Vanna came on in the second half, everything turned over.
In-form striker Tagnhild Gulbrandsen made a flying start for Norway with a fifth-min drive inside the box. The second-choice Australian side seemed to be under heavy pressure in the first period.
De Vanna's appearance changed that and she smashed home the magic equalizer on 83 minutes from the edge of the area.
The striker could have terminated the match if her 53rd-minute performance was rewarded. She strode forward from the midfield with amazing pace, leaving all the defenders behind before firing a low shot towards the net, only to find it hit the far post.
The 23-year-old forward raised the loudest applause in the additional time when she blitzed past three defenders and drove a small angle shot to be denied by keeper Nordby.
"It's a very good game for Norway in the first half, we got a goal and created some great chances. But in the second half they brought on De Vanna. She proves that she is one of the best forwards in the world cup. She is so fast," said Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen.
After a 5-0 win over New Zealand, Athens Olympics runners-up Brazil continue their glazing performance in the 4-0 demolition over host China. They now boast six points with nine clean goals and definitely booked a berth in the quarterfinals.
World-class 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, 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 after rounding two defenders. Marta now have four goals to lead the World Cup individual scoring table.
The other two goals all came from another razilian talented striker Cristiane Rozeira, the top goalscorer in World Cup 2007 qualifying with 12 goals.
In the other match of Group C, Canada rout Ghana 4-0 to boost their morale after the 2-1 defeat to Norway. Ace striker Christine Sinclair made a brace. The Cannucks have to beat Australia in their group match to hold the qualifying chances in their own hands. Ghana have to fly home after two straight losses.
In Group D, Denmark downed New Zealand 2-0 in a lopsided game to keep alive their hopes. But the Kiwis held them to a fruitless first 45 minutes, and it was thanks to captain Katrine Pedersen's curling free kick on 60 minutes to break the deadlock. Midfielder Cathrine Paaske Sorensen headed in the second six minutes later to seal the win.
New Zealand now have little hope of advancing after two defeats.
Source: Xinhua
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