World Cup veterans Brazil played out a 2-0 victory over South Korea in their first game of the 2015 edition of the tournament, as striker Marta netted to become the World Cup’s leading goal scorer of all time with 15 goals.
The 2007 World Cup runners-up never looked in doubt of winning the game and took the lead just before half time through 37-year-old Formiga.
Brazil were then awarded a penalty in the second 45 which Marta coolly slotted home for her 92nd goal in 91 appearances.
Despite the result, South Korea made a great start to the game and had a good shout for a penalty themselves waved away early on after Brazil’s Fabina fouled Yoo Younga in the box.
But the South American side broke the deadlock on 33 minutes after a great run by captain Cristiane at the heart of the South Korean defence forced an awful back pass from Kim Hyeri, which Formiga gratefully pounced on.
Once on the scoreboard Brazil started to take a hold of the game and in the second half doubled their lead just 8 minutes after the restart thanks to more woeful defending from the Taegeuk Ladies.
Another horrible pass to Cho So-hyun Formiga at the back caused chaos and Formiga was there again to gleefully pick up the pieces. The forward, playing at a record-equalling sixth World Cup, looked set to double her tally for the day having already become the oldest goalscorer in the tournament’s history but was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded.
Legend of the game Marta then wanted to make her own piece of history and stepped up to convert the spot kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a powerful side foot into the bottom left corner.
South Korea could have got themselves back in the game when Chelsea’s Ji So-Yun played in teammate Jeon Gaeul after spotting the Brazilian goalkeeper off her line, but defender Fabina got a touch on the ball right at the death, diverting it out for a corner.
As the Asian side pushed for a goal, Brazil could have gone 3-0 up on the counter as Cristiane unselfishly squared the ball to Marta from close range. But heroic defending from Lee Eunmi kept the score at 2-0 as the record-breaker looked set to celebrate her second goal of the game with the empty net gaping in front of her.
As it was, the game finished with just the two history-making goals, leaving Brazil top of Group E and favourites to go through to the last 16.
