Brazil came from a goal down to stun Germany 4-1 Monday and book a place in the women's Olympic decider, avenging their painful defeat to the European powerhouse in last year's World Cup final.
Formiga, Marta and a Cristiane brace did the damage, cancelling
out a Birgit Prinz strike to set up a gold medal match against
either defending champions the United States or Japan in Beijing on
Thursday.
Prinz got the opener on 10 minutes, making the breakthrough
after a nervy start by both sides. As she so often has in the past, the German captain used her brute strength to muscle her way past a defender and into the box before calmly rounding goalkeeper Barbara and side footing home.
Rattled, Brazil looked to their three most creative players -
Cristiane, Marta and Daniela -- for inspiration and they duly
delivered. Daniela was proving a handful down the left and it was from her
efforts that the South Americans almost got an equaliser with five
minutes left in the half.
Brazil - Germany, Shanghai, August 18, 2008
Her deep cross dropped at the feet of defender Simone only for
Germany"s Kerstin Garefrekes to make a crucial tackle and put the
ball behind for a corner. The near-miss sparked Brazil into life and three minutes later they were level after Cristiane sent a low cross into the box to
the advancing Formiga who smashed the ball into the net from 20
yards.
Brazil came out after the break just as determined and were
ahead within four minutes after Marta picked up the ball just
inside her own half and went rampaging down the middle of the park
with Germany caught napping. Drawing the defenders, she laid off the ball to Cristiane in acres of space and the 23-year-old made no mistake for her fourth goal of the tournament.
Brazil had another on 53 minutes when Marta rounded two
defenders as she cut into the box on the right before burying the
ball with the outside of her left boot. Germany's back line was at fault again for the fourth goal when Cristiane danced past three defenders before cooly placing the ball past the oncoming Angerer with 14 minutes left.
created by db
[bild1]Brazil came from a goal down to stun Germany 4-1 Monday and book a place in the women's Olympic decider, avenging their painful defeat to the European powerhouse in last year's World Cup final.
Formiga, Marta and a Cristiane brace did the damage, cancelling
out a Birgit Prinz strike to set up a gold medal match against
either defending champions the United States or Japan in Beijing on
Thursday.
Prinz got the opener on 10 minutes, making the breakthrough
after a nervy start by both sides. As she so often has in the past, the German captain used her brute strength to muscle her way past a defender and into the box before calmly rounding goalkeeper Barbara and side footing home.
Rattled, Brazil looked to their three most creative players -
Cristiane, Marta and Daniela -- for inspiration and they duly
delivered. Daniela was proving a handful down the left and it was from her
efforts that the South Americans almost got an equaliser with five
minutes left in the half.
Brazil - Germany, Shanghai, August 18, 2008
Her deep cross dropped at the feet of defender Simone only for
Germany"s Kerstin Garefrekes to make a crucial tackle and put the
ball behind for a corner. The near-miss sparked Brazil into life and three minutes later they were level after Cristiane sent a low cross into the box to
the advancing Formiga who smashed the ball into the net from 20
yards.
[bild2]
Brazil came out after the break just as determined and were
ahead within four minutes after Marta picked up the ball just
inside her own half and went rampaging down the middle of the park
with Germany caught napping. Drawing the defenders, she laid off the ball to Cristiane in acres of space and the 23-year-old made no mistake for her fourth goal of the tournament.
Brazil had another on 53 minutes when Marta rounded two
defenders as she cut into the box on the right before burying the
ball with the outside of her left boot. Germany's back line was at fault again for the fourth goal when Cristiane danced past three defenders before cooly placing the ball past the oncoming Angerer with 14 minutes left.
