Brazil on Friday became the 14th team to qualify for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, thrashing Argentina, 6-0 in the final phase of South American qualifying.
With the win, Brazil has 6 points through two of the three round-robin matches of CONMEBOL’s final stage. Colombia sits in second place with 4 points, while Argentina has 1 point and Ecuador is yet to secure a point.
The top two finishers from CONMEBOL automatically qualify for the 2015 World Cup, which for the first time will feature 24 teams in 2015. The third-place finisher in CONMEBOL will play the fourth-place finisher from CONCACAF in an intercontinental playoff for the final World Cup berth.
Colombia and Argentina are not only fighting for the second automatic berth for the 2015 World Cup, but also for a spot at the 2016 Olympics. The second-place finisher in this Copa America Women’s tournament earns South America’s only other spot at the 2016 Games alongside host Brazil.
Already qualified from Europe are England, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Joining them and host Canada are five teams from Asia: Australia, China, defending champions Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
Playing without superstar Marta, Brazil is rolling through the final phase, having scored 10 goals and given up none. Brazil is currently ranked No. 6 in the world.
From the match:
Brazil: Andreia Suntaque; Polyana Barbosa, Bruna Benitez, Tayla Pereira; Miraildes Maciel, Rilany Aguiar (Tamires), Maurine Dorlenes (Andresinha), Thaisa de Moraes; Darlene Reguera, Andressa Alves, Cristiane Rozeira (Raquel)
Argentina: Elizabeth Barroso; Agustina Barroso, Aldana Cometti, Florence Quinonez; Cecilia Ghigd, Adriana Sachs (Cabrera), Vanessa Santana (Venica), Fabiana Vallejos; Mariana Larroquette, Mercedes Pereira (Bonsegundo) and Stephanie Banini
Goals: Cristiane de Souza (32 min – Bra); Andressa Alves (36 min – Bra); Maurine Dorlenes (58 min – Bra); Tayla Pereira (66 min – Bra); Tamires Dias (71 min – Bra); Raquel Santos (84 min – Bra)
