Football: Brazil bounces back to thump Ferns

Monica of Brazil and Football Fern Amber Hearn compete for the ball. Photo / Supplied

The New Zealand women's football side had visions of claiming an unprecedented double over Brazil going into this morning's second international but those ambitions were ruined in a second-half onslaught.

Four days after beating the world's seventh-ranked side 1-0, the Football Ferns were thrashed 5-1 at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba this morning. They actually led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a well-taken strike by Sarah Gregorious in the 31st minute, even though they came under considerable pressure, but couldn't contain a free-flowing Brazil in the second half.

Coach Tony Readings said Brazil today showed the kind of quality they are capable of and the Football Ferns had to scramble well to limit the damage.

"Definitely today Brazil found more than one gear, probably an extra couple of gears, and that was basically from the outset," he said. "They had a much bigger crowd today and they were pretty vocal and I think it inspired them to play that little bit quicker and they were pressing us very intensely for the whole of that opening period and we found it hard to adjust to the pace of the game."

It's something they will hope to improve over the next 10 months ahead of the Olympics. The Football Ferns, who are presently ranked 16 in the world - their equal highest ranking - should easily qualify for Rio at next month's Olympic qualifying series against Papua New Guinea.

They have achieved some excellent results over recent years, but have failed to deliver in major tournaments and it hasn't matched their ambitions.

"They were just too good in the second half," Readings added. "It's something we've got to learn from. We've got to be better. We've got to keep the ball better. We've got to be able to be a little more composed when we win the ball because that's always been our strength when we've had good results - like the one three days ago - that's been on the back of really assured in-possession work.

"We'll go away now and lick our wounds and get together again for the qualifiers and put right some of these wrongs because we know we can play better."

The fury of the Brazilian fightback would have left the Ferns somewhat deflated after they did so well in the opening half hour to weather an early storm from their hosts. Despite Brazil regularly finding a way in behind in the New Zealand back four, the visitors stuck to their task and some composed and compact defending dealt well with the majority of Brazil attacks.

After a drinks break in the 26th minute, when Rosie White was also introduced into the match from the bench for Jasmine Pereira, momentum began to shift. Seconds after coming on, White delivered a cross from the byline which Gregorius came close to meeting with a header at the back post.

Any disappointment over the miss was soon forgotten as Gregorius brought the ball down on her chest on the edge of the area before expertly lifting it over the Brazil goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

That lead lasted until the break but just seconds after restart Brazil lifted again and hosts were at their dynamic best for the rest of the match, running in five unanswered goals to bounce back in style.

Brazil 5 (Poliana 46', Erika 57', Formiga 60', Marta 88', Debora 90+3')
New Zealand 1 (Sarah Gregorius 31').
Halftime: 0-1.