Wednesday 3rd August
OLYMPIC GAMES
GROUP E: Brazil 3-0 China, Sweden 1-0 South Africa
GROUP F: Canada 2-0 Australia, Germany 6-1 Zimbabwe
GROUP G: France 4-0 Colombia, USA 2-0 New Zealand
Brazil 3-0 China
The hosts made a winning start with a 3-0 result over China, having led 1-0 at the break from a Monica header. Andressa came off the bench to help set up the second goal with her first touch, picking out Marta who pulled the ball back for Andressa Alves to volley home. The win was assured late on with Andressa involved again, her free-kick being nodded home by Cristiane – the leading female goalscorer in Olympic history with 13 goals in 4 tournaments.
Sweden 1-0 South Africa
Sofia Jakobsson and Magdalena Eriksson both struck the crossbar for Sweden’s whose Lottan Schelin was denied by Roxanne Barker’s stunning stop. But it was 15 minutes from time that the only goal arrived, as Nilla Fischer. poked the ball home following a scramble in the penalty area.
Germany 6-1 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe marked their debut with a goal against Germany but were hit for six. Sara Daebritz headed in a corner kick midway through the first half and Alexandra Popp doubled the lead in similar fashion before the interval, with Melanie Leupolz the provider. Kudakwashe Basopo was on hand to reply in the 50th minute, after Rutendo Makore’s effort was spilled by Almuth Schult. Melanie Behringer restored the two-goal lead from a free-kick just 3 minutes later and then doubled her own tally late on with a follow up to Leupolz’s saved penalty. There was still time for two more goals though, from Leupolz and a Chibanda own goal.
Canada 2-0 Australia
Canada record the fastest ever goal in the Olympics, as Australia immediately conceded possession to Christine Sinclair, who found Janine Beckie to net after only 20 seconds. But the advantage was at risk as the Canadians were reduced to 10 players before half time, when Shelina Zadorsky fouled Michelle Heyman. The Matildas might have been out of the match after Caitlin Foord’s handball but Beckie’s penalty was saved by Lydia Williams. John Herdman’s side sealed the win when a long ball from Jessie Fleming led to Sinclair rounding the keeper to score.
France 4-0 Colombia
France hit three first half goals against Colombia, for whom the match had begun badly with Carolina Arias turning Eugenie Le Sommer’s cross into her own net inside 70 seconds. It was 2-0 on 15 minutes as Le Sommer found the net herself on the follow up from Camille Abily’s shot, that had come back off the crossbar. Abily then curled a free-kick into the top corner and Amel Majri added another set-piece goal in the dying minutes.
USA 2-0 New Zealand
Carli Lloyd gave the USA a 9th minute lead over New Zealand, when Tobin Heath put over a cross and Lloyd headed the ball back into the unguarded side of the goal. Moments into the second period it was 2-0, Heath again playing a part when setting the ball up for Morgan Brian, who passed to Alex Morgan to beat Erin Nayler on her near post.
The next round of group games is on Saturday evening, starting with Canada versus Zimbabwe at 6pm and includes France facing the USA and Australia against Germany.
