HANGZHOU, 27 September 2007
A sparkling individual show from Marta and yet another strong team performance gave Brazil an emphatic victory over the 10 women of the USA. After a fortunate early own goal put them ahead, the Brazilians combined strength and finesse to storm into Sunday’s final against Germany.
Right from the outset Brazil were intent on showing they were not afraid of being aggressive against the strong, tough tackling Americans. The US gameplan was the same as in previous games: direct balls to the front and aggressive defending at the back. With the Brazilians quicker on the turn, if not in a straight sprint, the US defence was reduced to American football-style block tackling.
Brazil took the lead on 20 minutes when Leslie Osborne, under no pressure, stooped low to head into her own net. Similar gasps of surprise greeted replays of the sublime Marta walzing past two defenders to beat tournament debutant Briana Scurry at the near post just seven minutes later.
As US coach Greg Ryan noted after the match, at 2-0 Brazil had only had one shot on goal. But their superiority on the ball was clear and the likelihood of them emerging victorious was increased two minutes into injury time when Shannon Boxx was sent off for a second bookable offence. Caught out again by delightfully fast footwork as Daniella and Marta played a quick one-two, the referee had no option but to produce the second yellow for a deliberate body-check.
Brazil took complete control in the second half as Marta, Maycon, Daniella and Cristiane found more and more space in a stretched US defence. At times they seemed almost surprised to find themselves in such open positions and wasted some excellent chances.
On 56 minutes, Cristiane made no mistake, sliding the ball past a helpless Scurry from Marta’s cross. Marta continued to give Tina Ellertson a torrid time down the left wing, turning her inside out on numerous occasions. Her second and Brazil’s fourth goal was worthy of any game of football at any level. Flicking the ball with the back of her heel, she span around Ellertson, collected the ball, dashed past Cat Whitehill and drove the ball into the back of the net.
It is hard to say whether the US would have crumbled so definitively had they had 11 players on the field. However, their tactics against such a fluid Brazil side made it more likely that one of their players might get sent off. This devasting defeat – their biggest ever – brings to an end an astonishing 51-match unbeaten streak. There can be no complaints.
Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos was naturally pleased with the win, but insisted 1-0 would have been just as good as 4-0. He cautioned against complacency, saying “We still haven’t won anything. This was the semi-final. We have a lot of work to do before the game against Germany.”
It will take something special to derail the Germans, who brushed aside a strong Norway team 3-0 in the earlier semi final. But, as they proved again tonight, this Brazilian team is very special.
Attendance: 47,818
USA 0
Brazil 4 (Osborne 20 og, Marta 27, 79, Cristiane 56)
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