World Cup Roundup: Victory Gives Brazil Date With The U.S.

Cristiane scored in the 75th minute to give Brazil a 3-2 victory against Australia yesterday in Tianjin, China. With the win, Brazil advanced to its first berth in the semifinals of the Womens World Cup.

Brazil advanced to play the United States in the semifinals.

News and features from around the world of soccer and the Web.

Cristiane swiveled into a right-foot shot — after passes from Marta and Daniela — that rocketed into the top right corner of the net for her fourth goal in this tournament.

Formiga and Marta also scored for Brazil, which next plays the United States in Hangzhou on Thursday. In the other semifinal, the defending champion Germany will play Norway, which defeated China by 1-0 in Wuhan.

Of the teams in the semifinals, three have won the title before: Germany, Norway and the United States. The Americans will be seeking their third, after wins in 1991 and 99.

Brazil led, 2-0, early in the match, but Australia rallied to tie the score on goals by Lisa De Vanna and Lauren Colthorpe.

Brazil took the lead in the fourth minute when Formiga placed a long-range shot over the Australian goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, and almost doubled the lead a minute later when Marta was one-on-one with the keeper, but Barbieri pulled off the save.

It was the third straight match in which Australia gave up an early goal. Its chances of recovery were further reduced when the captain Cheryl Salisbury was forced off in the 20th minute after a foul on Renata Costa was judged a penalty. Television replays showed that initial contact between the two was well outside the penalty area.

Marta converted the kick for her fifth goal of the tournament, which tied Norways Ragnhild Gulbrandsen for the most in the tournament.

NORWAY ELIMINATES HOST CHINA Isabell Herlovsen scored in the first half with help from a defensive mistake and Norway defeated host China, 1-0. Norway controlled the midfield and outmuscled China, which played with four forwards for most of the second half.

An error by fullback Wang Kun led to Herlovsens goal in the 32nd minute. Wang was the only defender between Herlovsen and the goal but was slow to respond, losing her footing as she tried to knock the ball loose. Herlovsen stayed in control and finished the shot from 10 yards.

Norway had eight shots in the game, compared with 21 for China.

China opened the game aggressively, with a 12-2 edge in shots in the first half, but rushed its attempts. Bi Yan fired a long-range shot in the 21st minute that goalkeeper Bente Nordby dived to stop, followed by a close-range attempt a minute later that went directly to her.

Tag Cloud

External Information

Additional Information

Where Am I?