WASHINGTON — South American flair beat Scandinavian brawn Wednesday as Brazil upset Norway 4-1 to take the lead in Group B of the Women's World Cup.
Daniela and Rosana scored picturesque goals in the first half, and Marta and Katia netted in the second half for a Brazilian team that surprisingly controlled the flow against the physical play of the 2000 Olympic champions.
The victory all but assured Brazil (2-0) a place in the quarterfinals. Norway (1-1) will hinge its hopes on a final group game against South Korea on Saturday.
The Norwegians bumped and elbowed their way to 11 first-half fouls, but they failed to intimidate a young Brazilian team that took a 2-0 lead before a classic long-ball goal from Marianne Pettersen cut the deficit in first-half injury time. Norway came out strong to start the second half, threatening goalkeeper Andreia several times, but two more goals by Brazil quickly put the game away.
The game was a rematch of the third-place game of the 1999 World Cup, won by Brazil on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie.
GERMANY 3, JAPAN 0: At Columbus, Ohio, Birgit Prinz scored two goals and Germany beat Japan to take the lead in Group C. Sandra Minnert added a goal as Germany (2-0) became the only team in the group with two wins. Japan (1-1) was coming off an opening 6-0 victory over Argentina.
Stefanie Gottschlich stole the ball at midfield and passed to Maren Meinert who set up Prinz's first goal. Prinz collected the pass inside the penalty box and sent a right-footed shot into the right side for a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute.
The Germans used their height advantage and played aggressive defense with the lead. Every time forward Homare Sawa touched the ball she was bumped and pushed by two or three defenders.
FRANCE 1, SOUTH KOREA 0: At Washington, Marinette Pichon, last year's MVP in the WUSA, kept France alive Wednesday night, scoring in the 84th minute in a 1-0 victory over South Korea.
With her team on the brink of elimination, Pichon controlled the ricochet of Elodie Woock's free kick from the left wing and drove home the winning goal from 12 yards. It was the first Women's World Cup goal for France, which got shut out 2-0 in its debut game last Saturday against Norway.
A tie would have ended any chance of France (1-1) advancing to the quarterfinals. Now they are tied for second in Group B with Norway.
CANADA 3, ARGENTINA 0: At Columbus, Christine Latham scored twice in a three-minute span Wednesday night and Canada earned its first Women's World Cup victory ever, beating Argentina.
Charmaine Hooper added a goal off a penalty kick as Canada (1-1) remained in the hunt for a second-round berth.
Latham headed a hard shot that goalkeeper Romina Ferro blocked but she pushed in the rebound with her right foot while falling backward in the 79th minute.
In the 82nd minute, Kristina Kiss bent a direct kick past a wall of three defenders to Silvana Burtini who passed to Latham who put a low shot past Ferro from 7 yards.
Canada was awarded the penalty kick in the 18th minute after Latham was tripped inside the penalty box by defender Mariela Coronel. Hooper sent a hard shot to left side netting as Ferro dived to her right.
Argentina (0-2) has not scored in its two games and cannot advance past the first round.
Canada was winless in seven World Cup games, though the team did earn a tie in each of the previous two tournaments.