Soc: US women into Olympic football quarters as Brazil downed

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2004
Soc: US women into Olympic football quarters as Brazil downed

ATHENS, Aug 14 AFP - Former world champions the United States qualified for the quarter-finals
of the Olympic Games women's football tournament after beating Brazil in an ill-tempered
clash.

A second-half penalty from skipper Mia Hamm and a superb individual effort from striker
Abby Wambach secured a place in the last eight for the Americans, who beat Greece 3-0
in an earlier Group G match.

Elsewhere hosts Greece were left staring down the barrels of elimination from the competition
as they were beaten 1-0 by Australia, their second defeat of the tournament.

In other games China were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Mexico in Group F,
a result that assures Germany of their quarter-final berth, and Nigeria beat Japan 1-0
in Group E.

Brazil had the better of a bruising first half against 1996 Olympic gold medallists
the USA which saw players from both teams flying into tackles.

US midfielder Shannon Boxx was lucky to escape punishment for one wild two-footed challenge
that left Brazilian skipper Juliana writhing in agony.

Brazil twice hit the woodwork in the first half and carved out several goalscoring chances.

Two of them fell to inspirational striker Marta, who tested Briana Scurry in the US
goal with a firm low drive on 18 minutes before having a curling free-kick comfortably
gathered.

The US came out much stronger in the second half and took the lead when Hamm converted
from the spot after being brought crashing down in the box on 58 minutes. Wambach wrapped
up the points when she cut in the from the right, beat two defenders and drilled in from
six yards out.

Elsewhere, Australia kept their hopes of a quarter-final berth alive after Heather
Garriock's 27th minute goal downed Greece.

In Group F, China, still reeling in shock from their 8-0 trouncing by Germany, found
themselves a goal down after just 11 minutes when Mexico striker Maribel Dominguez tucked
away a low shot on the rebound.

The Chinese were stunned by the strike but slowly came back into the match to level
when Zhang Ming's shot from the edge of the area flew in on 34 minutes.

Despite dominating for long periods thereafter China struggled to hit the target and
now face almost certain elimination unless Germany defeat Mexico by a cricket score in
the final group game.

Japan, meanwhile, went down to Nigeria when Vera Okolo netted on 55 minutes in the
night's other game in Group E.

AFP sp

KEYWORD: OLY SOC WOMEN

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