Brazil beat a desperate Denmark side 1-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals as Group D leaders after three straight wins at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Hangzhou, China on Thursday.
The Danes (with three points) had to fly home after the loss as hosts China beat New Zealand 2-0 in the other match to advance with six points. Brazil will meet the second-placed team of Group C Australia in the quarter-finals, and China's rivals would be Norway.
"At the beginning we met some troubles as I made some changes to the starting lineup, and those players are not familiar with their new positions," said Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos.
"But we were gradually into the match and control the rhythm of the second half, and finally scored."
"Australia will be a tough rival in the quarter-finals, I think we are going to meet bigger trouble."
"I'm proud of being the head coach of Denmark. We played a great match against a very great tonight. They are very skillful in one-one situation," said Denmark coach Kenneth Heiner Moller.
"We are also not ordinary on one-one occasions, we do a lot of technical teamwork to deal with them. We had two or three chances in each half."
Substitute forward Pretinha lobbed the ball past Danish keeper Heidi Johansen after collecting a through ball in the first minute of injury to get the winner.
Denmark missed their best chance in the 72nd minute when substitute striker Johanna Rasmussen's fierce diagonal shot went just a little bit wide of the far post.
The crucial match, which may decide China's fate attracted some 43,817 fans to the Dragon Stadium and mostly cheering for the Brazilians to help ease the hosts' qualifying situation.
Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos brought on his major starting lineup with star players Marta, Daniela and Cristiane. And Brazil took the upper hand on the first half.
It was Denmark who had more desire in the beginning, lauching sharp attacks with a flexible 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 formation. Striker Maiken Pape nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but her header after an clinical long pass was tipped over by a diving save from keeper Andreia.
After the starting mess, Brazil gradually controlled the pace with their fine skills. Marta's power was shown on several occasions when she brushed off challenges of the defenders and provided threatening passes or shots.
Marta hit the post on 31 minutes after surpassing a defender in the left flank and smashed a small angle shot.
Denmark fought hard under their opponents' pressure after the break, but still couldn't change the situation. The Danes may feel lucky to avoid bigger defeat in the latter stage of the second period.
Source: Xinhua
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