USL at the Women’s World Cup >>
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The final day of the second round of group play games saw the Cinderella run of the Australians continue as they posted a draw against Norway while Canada restored their chances of advancing with a win over Ghana. In Group D, Brazil moved well ahead with a second victory Saturday and Denmark got their first to pull level with China.
Group C: Canada 4 :: 0 Ghana
Former Vancouver Whitecap Christine Sinclair led Canada to the victory with two goals in the 16th and 62nd minutes of the match. Fresh off her three-goal season with Vancouver just over a month ago, 19-year-old defender/midfielder Sophie Schmidt scored the second goal of the match in the 55th and another former Whitecap, Martina Franko, closed out the rout in the 77th.
The Canadians broke three significant team records: most goals in FIFA Women’s World Cup match (four), most FIFA Women’s World Cup goals all-time by a single player (Christine Sinclair, 5), and most international caps all-time by a single player (Andrea Neil, 131). With five goals in eight matches, Sinclair leapfrogs USL Hall of Famer Charmaine Hooper for most career goals by a Canadian in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
CSA Full Report [+] FIFA Full Report [+]
Group C: Australia 1 :: 1 Norway
Coming off their first-ever tournament win, the Matildas kept the good run going with a surprising draw against fourth-ranked Norway to move atop the table based on goal differential. Trailing 1-0 since the fifth minute of the game, former Boston Renegade Caitlin Munoz came off the bench late and set up the equalizer, her second assist of the tournament. In the 83rd minute Munoz played a ball through up the middle and Lisa De Vanna brilliantly turned her defender inside out and then struck a superb left foot shot from outside of the box that gave the Norwegian keeper no chance, netting her third of the tournament.
Australia Full Report [+] FIFA Full Report [+]
Group D: Brazil 4 :: 0 China
The Brazilians dominated for the second straight game to boost their aggregate score to 9-0 for the tournament, handing the hosts a terrible loss. Brazil virtually has secured a spot in the Quarterfinals based on their two wins and vast advantage in goal differential. Saturday’s game was the Marta show as she was directly involved in all four goals with two goals and two assists as they cruised to a win that could have been by an even greater margin. Former W-Leaguers Formiga and Daniela started and patrolled the midfield for Brazil.
FIFA Full Report [+]
Group D: Denmark 2 :: 0 New Zealand
The young New Zealand squad featuring a pair of W-Leaguers in starter Priscilla Duncan and sub Emma Humphries bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing by Brazil, but were unable to find their first goal in the loss to sixth-ranked Denmark, whom they kept off the board until the 61st minute.
FIFA Full Report [+]
