The clash between tournament favourites United States and underdogs Brazil was certainly a game of two halves. In the first period the USA struggled to find any real form and were held to a goalless draw at the interval, but in the second they opened up and scored six times without reply.
The first half was one of frustration for Craig Parnham`s squad. They had all the pressure but were restricted to only a handful of clear-cut chances by a Brazilian side that defended well in depth with goalkeeper Lisandra de Souza producing a series of fine saves.
The US should have taken the lead inside the opening three minutes but Michelle Kasold missed the target following a superb pass into the circle. The Brazilian goal lived a charmed life, with a penalty corner shot being saved on the line before Jill Witmer missed an open goal. The outstanding De Souza ensured that the teams went into the break at 0-0 when she denied efforts from Claire Laubach and Rachel Dawson late in the half.
There was an obvious sigh of relief when the favourites opened their account five minutes into the second half, with Laubach`s powerful penalty corner drag flick finding the net via the keeper`s pads. Following a series of goalmouth scrambles, USA grabbed a second in the 47th minute when an initial shot on goal hit the foot of a defender only for the umpire to play advantage, allowing Melissa Gonzales to slam home the rebound.
The USA quickly added a third and fourth goals to their tally, with Katie Reinprecht scoring a clever deflection in the 51st minute before Katie O’Donnell got in on the act when she brilliantly divert a cross from Rachel Dawson into the roof of the Brazilian net
With five minutes remaining, Claire Laubach added a fifth against the tired Brazilians with another penalty corner drag flick, with the scoring being completed by Torrie Albini who tapped in from close range following a fine run from Katie O’Donnell. (Source; FIH)
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