Zanaretto brace as Brazil cruise past Argentina into semis

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March 2 – Brazil turned on the style for a 5-1 win over Argentina at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles to secure their semi-final spot in San Diego next week where they will face either Mexico or Paraguay.

A brace from Bia Zanaretto powered the win which would have been a lot more but for goalkeeper Laurina Oliveros’s commanding performance. Argentina scored a late consolation goal, but Brazil scored their fifth in added time as if to emphasise their dominance.

Brazil outshot the Argentinians 24 to 6 and at times built passages of possession and movement that were on a different level.

Argentina vs Brazil is a South American classic in the men’s game – it will eventually become one in the women’s game as well, but it isn’t there yet.

Argentina coach German Portanova was keen to emphasise pre-tournament that this is Argentina’s women’s team and not the men’s team of Lionel Messi and friends. Portanova point was that they are very much in the early stages of the Argentinian women’s project. Even so, he has a team that is ranked 31 in the world and opened their group phase with a draw against Mexico before beating the Dominican Republic.

But in Brazil, Argentina were up against a team with a lot of precocious talent.

Brazil had come through the group stage unbeaten, improving with every performance, and qualifying for the quarter finals with three wins as the second ranked team. With this match they moved up another gear

Argentina qualified as the best ranked third-placed group team.

Both teams traded attacks early on. On 4 minutes Brazil’s Vitoria Yaya fed Gabi Nunes who blasted over.

Two minutes later Argentina’s Dalila Ippolito spotted Brazil keeper Adriana outside her box – she has a habit of going wandering – but her lofted shot over the top just dribbled past the post.

Gabi Nunes was starting to make an impression up front for Brazil and fired into Argentina keeper Laurina Oliveros on 16’.

Two minutes later Brazil were…

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Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/03/03/zanaretto-brace-brazil-cruise-past-argentina-semis/

Author : Paul Nicholson

Publish date : 2024-03-03 08:05:40

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