Spiga

July 6, 2011

Brazil 3, Equatorial Guinea 0


Brazil remained undefeated in Group D action on the strength of three 2nd half goals as they shut out Equatorial Guinea 3-0. Brazil are the Group D winners and will move on to face the United States in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Today was Cristiane's day as she scored two goals for Brazil, after being shutout for her first two matches.

Equatorial Guinea hung tough for the first half of the match. They kept Brazil off the scoreboard with the game going into intermission scoreless.

While Brazil had the better of play, Equatorial Guinea did have one excellent chance. Anonman was able to work for a shot inside the penalty area, but Andreia came out and blocked the shot before it could get anywhere close to the goal.

Brazil started the scoring less than four minutes into the second half and what a beautiful effort it was. Cristiane beat a Laetitia up the left side of the field, dribbling to just outside the penalty are near the end line. Her hard chest-high shot forced Miriam to punch the ball away. The ball came to Erika on one hop. She chested the ball to her right foot, juggled the ball over a defender to her left and volleyed the ball inside the left post.

Just five minutes later, Brazil played the ball up the left side once again. Marta ran onto the ball and crossed from the left side to Cristiane, who was making a near post run. Cristiane just beat defender Dulcia to the ball. She reached back with her left leg and touched the ball past Miriam and it was 2-0. The goal had Cristiane turning somersaults as she put on quite a display after the goal as well.

Equatorial Guinea nearly got one back as a long free kick was sent into the box. The ball bounced in front of Andreia and nearly over her head, but she reached up at the last second to deflect the ball wide.

In stoppage time, Marta was dribbling on the left edge of the penalty area and was taken out by Bruna. It appeared that she may have had one foot into the penalty area when the foul occured and that's exactly what the referee ruled, awarding a penalty. Cristiane took the penalty and placed it lower right to make it 3-0.

Five yellow cards were handed out in the match, three for Equatorial Guinea and two for Brazil. Brazil outshot Equatorial Guinea 14-6 overall and 6-2 on shots on goal.

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