Samba Queens Too Much For U.S.
(Soccer365.com) Brazil easily danced into the Women’s World Cup final with a thorough 4-0 dismantling of the U.S. women’s national team at Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou on Thursday. Marta led the way for the Samba Queens with 2 goals.
The biggest and most controversial play of the game came late into first half stoppage time when Shannon Boxx was shown her second yellow of the half and sent to the showers early. Replays clearly show that Boxx and Cristiane knocked feet and no foul occurred but nothing could reverse the ruling of referee Nicole Petignat.
Despite the huge decision, Brazil was well in control of the match with a two goal advantage and the better run of play before the referee made the call.
The CONMEBOL side was quick to show their faster pace down the flanks and were much more creative and able to find their attacking players.
And they held the advantage in good fortune as well. After earning a second corner kick in the 20th minute, Brazil served the ball to the near post and off one hop a diving Leslie Osborne accidentally headed the ball between the near post defender and goalkeeper Brianna Scurry.
Marta then doubled the lead in the 27th minute. The red hot goal scorer dispossessed Stephanie Lopez on the sideline 30 yards for goal. The Golden Boot leader then pushed to goal with Lopez desperately tugging on her shorts, cut back to her favored left foot and blasted a near post shot which Scurry could only get a finger on as it went in the side netting.
With only ten players the Red, White and Blue could do little to stop the dance of Brazil.
Cristiane kept her goal scoring charge moving forward with a clinical finish in the 56th minute. Maycon drew two defenders to her as she dribbled into the box and then slotted the ball back to an unmarked Cristiane who calmly controlled and easily placed a left footed shot past Scurry.
After taking some heat for his decision to replace goalkeeper Hope Solo with Scurry, U.S. head coach Greg Ryan continued to perplex fans with his substitutions deciding to use two of his three subs on defensive players despite being down by 3 goals.
Marta finished the scoring in superb fashion. She received the ball at the corner of the box with defender Tina Ellertson on her back. The Brazilian seemingly effortless took the ball off the bounce and back heeled it past Ellerston, spun around the defender before reclaiming the ball beating one other U.S. defender on the dribble and hitting a right footed shot past Scurry.
Brazil will play Germany on Sunday in the Women’s World Cup final while the U.S. will look to re-group against Norway also on Sunday in the third place match.
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