Brazil came from a goal down to stun Germany 4-1 yesterday and book a place in the women’s Olympic soccer final.
Formiga, Marta and a Cristiane brace did the damage, canceling out a Birgit Prinz strike.
Prinz got the opener on 10 minutes, making the breakthrough after a nervy start by both sides.
PHOTO: AFP
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.
In tyhe 43rd minute Brazil were level after Cristiane sent a low cross into the box to the advancing Formiga, who smashed the ball into the net from 20m.
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 the ball off 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, cut into the box on the right and buried 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 coolly placing the ball past the oncoming Angerer with 14 minutes left.
Late result from the second semi-final yesterday:
• United States 4, Japan 2
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