WUHAN, CHINA - Brazil took their goal tally to nine in two games after banging in four against China to all but guarantee a quarterfinal spot on matchday five of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Two goals each to Marta and Christiane inside 70 minutes ensured an easy win for the Selecao while China must now beat the Football Ferns and improve their goal difference substantially if Denmark beat Brazil on Wednesday.

Marta’s second double in as many games takes her to the top of the golden shoe race with four goals ahead of Christiane and Australia’s Lisa De Vanna whose late equaliser against Norway keeps both teams equal at the top of Group C.

Meanwhile, Canada kept their quarterfinal hopes alive by beating Ghana 4-0 and must now beat Australia in their final group game to prevent the Australians from progressing out of the group stages for the first time in four attempts.

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WUHAN, CHINA – Two set-piece goals were ultimately the difference between New Zealand and Denmark on Saturday night as the Football Ferns lost 2-0 to the world number 6 in their second FIFA Women's World Cup group match. 

Heading into the tunnel at halftime level with the Danes, the Football Ferns were in with a real chance of making history with New Zealand’s first point at a senior World Cup, but they were ultimately undone by two ruthlessly efficient set-plays.

From a foul on the edge of New Zealand’s 18-yard box, Denmark’s Katrine Pederson curled the ensuing free-kick exquisitely over the New Zealand wall and into the top corner of Jenny Bindon’s net for a 61^st minute lead.

Five minutes later, Pederson again punished the Ferns from a set piece, this time by picking out the head of Cathrine Paaske Sorensen at the back post to double the lead.

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Goalkeepers at the FIFA Women's World Cup will take to their beds tonight fearing dreams (or rather nightmares) featuring opposing players unleashing power drives past them from long range. On Day Three at China 2007 there were some explosive examples of accurate shooting and it helped the host nation to launch their campaign with a spectacular 3-2 victory over Denmark in Wuhan.

Elsewhere Brazil employed similar speculation against New Zealand and received a handsome reward in the shape of five goals without reply, while a small slice of history was made as Australia won their first game in the competition at the tenth attempt. They defeated Ghana while former winners Norway edged out the 2003 semi-finalists Canada.

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NZF/September 12, 2007

WUHAN, CHINA – Brazil produced a masterclass in long-range finishing to beat New Zealand 5-0 in their group D opener at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Wuhan, China on Wednesday night.

All but the last of Brazil's goals were scored from outside the penalty area with classy finishes, including a stunning 35-yard shot from holding midfielder Renata four minutes from time. 

Three goals in the last 20 minutes gave the score-line some padding as kiwi legs tired from a second half spent increasingly in their own territory and under immense pressure, but with just one goal in it at half time, the chance for the senior women to emulate their U-20 counterparts and get a result against the Selecao was within reach.

Starting five players from that 2006 U-20 side – with another two on the bench – New Zealand frustrated Brazil throughout the first half, content to defend strongly, upset the Brazilians rhythm, force them into mistakes, and hit them on the counter attack.

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In the provincial capital they call the 'City of Abundance', USA and Korea DPR staged a veritable feast of attacking football and gripping excitement, and by sharing four goals they underlined that the FIFA Women's World Cup will showcase the more even nature of the global game. Additional emphasis arrived later in the shape of two more drawn affairs, as England and Japan and then Nigeria and Sweden all put a point on the board.

If the Opening Match left the undeniable impression that Germany are once again the team to beat at China 2007, then day two suggested there will be a host of teams challenging for their crown. Prominent among them look sure to be Korea DPR, who gave USA a mighty scare in Chengdu.

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NZF/ WUHAN, CHINA – The Football Ferns are under no illusions about how difficult their first World Cup game against Brazil will be on Wednesday night but determined to take their more fancied opponents to the wire.

Wuhan’s 52,000-seater stadium is expected to be near capacity for the match – part of a Group D double header also featuring Denmark and China – and the Football Ferns will be hoping to have many of the locals in their camp when they kick-off at 9pm New Zealand time (Live Sky Sport 3).

World champions Germany showed just how large the gap can be between the very best and the rest by demolishing Argentina 11-0 in the tournament’s opening match and it’s something of which Football Ferns head coach is all too aware.

“Teams like Germany, the USA and Brazil are absolute powerhouses of the game, and that result just shows that what New Zealand is up against when we play on the world stage,” said Herdman.

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