Brazil's players celebrate a last-minute goal against Denmark during their Group D match at the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament in Hangzhou yesterday. Brazil won 1-0 to advance to the quarter-finals against Australia in Tianjin on Sunday. - AP
TIANJIN, China (AP):
NORWAY, AUSTRALIA, Brazil and hosts China reached the women's World Cup quarter-finals yesterday, completing the eight-team field for this weekend's showdowns.
Norway hammered Ghana 7-2 in Hangzhou, leaving the Africans with three losses in three Group C games. Australia rallied to draw Canada 2-2 on an injury-time equaliser by Cheryl Salisbury. Australia needed only a draw to advance, with Canada needing a victory in their final game in the south-western city of Chengdu.
China edged New Zealand 2-0 in Group D in Tianjin to advance, and Brazil defeated Denmark 1-0 in Hangzhou, leaving the South Americans as the only team with three victories from three group games.
Tomorrow's quarter-final matchups between the No. 1-ranked United States and England and defending champions Germany and North Korea were decided on Tuesday as Group A and B finished play.
On Sunday, Norway face China in the final eight and Brazil play Australia.
"I think if we are at our best, we can go to the semi-finals," Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen said. "We were very casual in defence at times. We have to be much better defensively in the quarter-finals."
Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored three - one in the first half and two in the second - to give her five for the tournament. Lene Storlokken, Ane Stangeland Horpestad, Isabell Herlovsen and Lise Klaveness also scored for Norway.
Gulbrandsen's first goal was the 500th in the history of the women's World Cup.
Adjoa Bayor and Florence Okoe scored for Ghana.
Norway finished with seven points followed by Australia (four), Canada (three) and Ghana (0).
A first for Aussies
In Chengdu, Salisbury's equaliser gave Australia a 2-2 draw and put the Aussies into their first quarter-finals in the women's World Cup. Salisbury scored in the second minute of injury time to cancel out Canada's 85th-minute goal by their own captain, Christine Sinclair.
Had that goal stood, Canada would have reached the quarter-finals instead of Australia.
"When that ball came across, it was just sitting in front of me," Salisbury said. "I saw all the Canadian players going in one direction, so I just thought I'd put it behind them.
"It all seemed so slow and calm, and then the place just erupted - it was an awesome feeling."
Canada went ahead 1-0 on the second-fastest goal in women's World Cup history through Melissa Tancredi before Colette McCallum equalised for Australia early in the 53rd.
Tancredi scored on a volley after 32 seconds to beat goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri. The quickest goal in the World Cup came in 1991 in 30 seconds by Sweden's Lena Videkull in 1991.
Brazil, with star Marta pulling the strings, dominated Denmark but could not score until the first minute of injury time when substitute Pretinha raced on to a through ball and lifted it over the onrushing Danish goalkeeper Heidi Johansen.
Brazil could have scored more except for poor finishing and great goalkeeping by Johansen.
The pro-Brazilian crowd at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium oohed and ahhed each time Marta touched the ball and she did not disappoint, launching passes around the field and dribbling past defenders.
Li Jie and Xie Caixia scored in the second half in China's victory over New Zealand, who lost their three games.
Repeated attacks
China launched repeated attacks but weren't able to crack the gritty New Zealand defence until the 57th minute when Li scored off a free kick from Zhou Gaoping, heading the ball over 'keeper Jenny Bindon.
Xie added another in the 79th minute, deftly outdribbling a defender and launching a left-footed shot from close range.
China coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors, who coached her native Sweden to second place four years ago, knows Norway.
"I have played Norway many times with the Swedish team and I know Norway, how they play," Domanski-Lyfors said. "I think it will be very important that we have good pressure on the ball."
A boisterous crowd of 56,200 turned out at Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium to cheer on the home team, setting off flares and chanting "Two to nothing!" after China's first goal.
Australian players celebrate after scoring the second goal during their Group C match against Canada at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in Chengdu yesterday. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. Australia advanced to the quarter-finals in Tianjin. - AP
