Brazil rout US 4-0, make final
Updated: 2007-09-27 22:36
Hangzhou - Brazil is into the final of the women's World Cup and the United States' bid to win a third title is over.
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| Brazil's Formiga (L), Cristiane (C) and Marta celebrate after their team scored against the US during the semi-final soccer match in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou, September 27, 2007. [Reuters] |
The No. 1-ranked Americans saw their undefeated string end at 51 games over almost three years as they were overpowered 4-0 on Thursday.
Brazil went ahead through an own goal after 20 minutes, and Marta doubled the lead soon after. Cristiane and Marta added two more in the second half. Marta is now alone atop the tournament scorers' chart with seven goals.
The US played the final 45 minutes with 10 players after midfielder Shannon Boxx was sent off in first-half injury time for a contentious second yellow card.
Into its first women's World Cup final, Brazil will face Germany on Sunday in Shanghai. The Americans will play Norway in Sunday's third-place game.
The Americans were bidding for a third World Cup to go with titles in 1991 and 1999. But the US was by far the second-best team and a loss in the semifinals is a repeat of the 2003 event when it went out to Germany at the same stage. It was also the heaviest defeat for the American women in any World Cup match.
Brazil took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. Formiga sent in a corner, which bounced just short of the goal. Attempting to head it behind, midfielder Leslie Osborne headed it into the net between goalkeeper Briana Scurry and Lori Chalupny.
Seven minutes later, Brazil's creative striker Marta struck her first. She evaded a half-dozen American players and cracked a left-footed shot from 15 yards (meters) that hugged the ground and beat Scurry diving to her left. She got her left hand on the ball but couldn't stop it.
Brazil may have also deserved a penalty in the fifth minute when American defender Cat Whitehill escaped despite bringing down Cristiane in the area.
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