By Mike Martin ⋅ September 27, 2007 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Global, South America

Brazil cruised into Sunday’s Women’s World Cup with an emphatic 4-0 win over favourites USA but the match was marred by an abysmal refereeing mistake at the end of the first half.

All the attention at kick-off was on USA coach Greg Ryan’s decision to drop goalkeeper Hope Solo and her replacement Briana Scully had a nightmare first half as Leslie Osborne headed a corner into her own net and then Marta’s left-footed shot squirmed through her hands.

With Brazil already two up, the USA had Shannon Boxx sent off for a second yellow card after an innocent tangle of laces with Cristiane, who unsportingly celebrated the red card as though it were the winning goal.

Brazil, who were dominant anyway, controlled the second half as an unchallenged Cristiane side-footed a third past Scully and Marta produced an outrageous piece of skill to beat USA defender Tina Ellertson before cutting in from the left wing and beating the unconvincing American goalkeeper for a second time.

And Cristiane, Marta and Daniela each had chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

Brazil face Germany in the final at 1300 BST on Sunday, while the USA face Norway in the earlier Bronze Medal Final.

U.S.A. 4-3-3 - Scurry; Rampone, Whitehill, Markgraf (Dalmy 74′), Lopez (Lloyd HT); Chalupny, Boxx, Osborne; O’Reilly (Ellertson 60′), Wambach, Lilly (c)

Brazil 3-4-3 - Andreia; Aline (c), Renata, Tania; Elaine, Formiga, Ester, Maycon; Daniela, Cristiane, Marta

Goals: Osborne (o.g) 20′; Marta 27′, 79; Cristiane 56′

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