Brazil Defeats Argentina 4-1 to Open 2021 SheBelieves Cup

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2021) – Brazil defeated regional rival Argentina, 4-1 to open the 2021 SheBelieves Cup in a game that featured a first half penalty kick from Orlando Pride star and Brazilian legend Marta who was playing in her club’s home stadium.

 

Scoring chances were not plentiful in the first half, but a well-struck shot from defender Tainara in the 7^th minute went right to Argentina goalkeeper Solona Pereyra. North Carolina Courage star Debinha probably should have opened the scoring in the 21^st minute when she ran onto a slightly deflected corner kick cross, but she cut her left-footed shot just outside the right post with plenty of goal space to shoot for.

 

Brazil finally broke through in the 30^th minute after Argentina defender Aldana Cometti upended midfielder Adriana in 28^th minute after the Brazilian attacker had pushed past her into the left side of the penalty box.

 

Marta placed her shot low under the ‘keeper and into right side of the net for the 1-0 lead for her 108^th career international goal.

 

Brazil doubled its lead just two minutes into the second half after a nice build up down the left wing. Marta played a pass centrally to Adriana and she in turn slipped a pass behind the Argentina defense to Debinha, who struck her shot from 16 yards out into the left side of the net past the wrong-footed goalkeeper. It was Debinha’s 30^th international goal in her 86^th game for Brazil.

 

Brazil got its third in the 54th minute from Adriana as she took a square pass from Debinha about 40 yards from the goal and raced behind the defense into the penalty area before smashing her shot from 15 yards out into the lower left corner. Adriana’s goal was just her second in 25 games for Brazil.

 

Argentina pulled a goal back in the 60^th minute as Mariana Larroquette, who plays in the NWSL with Kansas City, scored a fantastic header. Forward Yamila Rodriguez sent a driven cross from the left wing to the far post. It bounced once before Larroquette headed the skidding ball back across the goal, off the left post and into the net from a tight angle. It was her 15^th career goal in 51 caps.

 

Brazil restored its three-goal lead in the 82^nd minute when a pair of second half subs combined for a goal. Forward Cristine played a perfect ball into the right side of the penalty area for Geyse. She struck a shot off the goalkeeper’s hands from 14 yards out and it looped into left side of the net. It was her 17^th goal in just 33 games for Brazil.

 

The SheBelieves Cup continues Sunday, Feb. 21 at Exploria Stadium as the USA takes on Brazil (3 p.m. ET on FS1 & TUDN) and Canada faces Argentina (7 p.m. on FS2 & the TUDN App, TUDN.tv). The final games take place on Wednesday, Feb. 24 with Canada facing Brazil (3 p.m. ET on FS1 and the TUDN App, TUDN.tv) followed by the USA vs. Argentina (7 p.m. ET on FS1 and TUDN).

 

 

- 2021 SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT -

 

Match: Brazil Women’s National Team vs. Argentina Women’s National Team

Date: February 18, 2021

Competition: 2021 SheBelieves Cup

Venue: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Florida

Attendance: 1,119 (Limited Capacity)

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET

Weather: 86 degrees, Partly Cloudy

 

Scoring Summary:     1          2          F

BRA                             1          3          4                         

ARG                             0          1          1

 

BRA – Marta (Penalty Kick)                              30^th minute

BRA – Debinha (Beatriz)                                    47  

BRA – Adriana (Debinha)                                  54

ARG -- Mariana Larroquette (Rodriguez)             60  

BRA – Geyse (Cristiane)                                    84  

 

Lineups:

BRA: 12-Aline (22-Leticia, 46); 18-Camila, 21-Tainara, 4-Rafaelle, 6-Tamires (7-Bruna, 46), 14-Adriana (5-Geyse, 76), 13-Júlia (17-Andressinha, 46), 15-Chú (8-Ivana, 69), 16-Beatriz (11-Cristiane, 69), 9-Debinha, 10-Marta (Capt.)

Substitutions Not Used: 1-Bárbara, 2-Kathellen, 3-Bruna, 19-Ludmila, 20-Gio, 23-Jucinara

Head coach: Pia Sundhage

 

ARG: 1-Solana Pereyra; 4-Marina Delgado (17-Valentina Camara, 46), 2-Agustina Barroso, 6-Aldana Cometti, 16-Lorena Benitez (14-Miriam Mayorga, 90), 8-Clarisa Huber (10-Dalila Ippolito, 74), 13-Sophia Braun (19-Mariana Larroquette, 42), 5-Vanesa Santana (Capt.) (20-Daiana Falfan, 60), 18-Romina Nuñez, 9-Soledad Jaimes (7-Yael Olviedo, 43), 11-Yamila Rodriguez

Substitutions Not Used: 2-Laurina Oliveros, 15-Milagros Menendez

Head coach: Carlos Borrello

 

Stats Summary: BRA / ARG

Shots: 8 / 4

Shots on Goal: 6 / 2

Saves: 1 / 2

Corner Kicks: 3 / 2

Fouls: 10 / 11

Offside: 3 / 1

 

Misconduct Summary:

BRA - Beatriz (Caution)                        12^th minute

ARG - Marina Delgado (Caution)          20

BRA - Marta (Caution)                          81

 

Officials: 

Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Brooke Mayo (USA)

4th Official: Tori Penso (USA)

 

2021 SheBelieves Cup Final Standings

TEAM	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Brazil	1	1	0	0	4	0	+3	3
USA	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Argentina	1	0	1	0	0	1	-3	3