Brazil turned on their unique samba style in front of 13,142 fans at Adelaide's Coopers Stadium on July 24, pounding Panama 4-0 thanks to an Ary Borges hat-trick and a team goal the likes of which will rarely be bettered at this FIFA Women's World Cup Finals. Pia Sundhage's free-flowing stylists hit the ground running from the first whistle, and only brave goalkeeping by Yenith Bailey prevented Adriana from opening the scoring just forty seconds into the contest, Debinha and Bia Zaneratto having combined to create the opportunity. That move set the tone for what was to follow, Brazilian dominance, Panamanian resistance. In the eighth minute, Antonia teamed up with Bia Zaneratto, who worked a one-two with Ary Borges before sending a twenty-yarder whistling narrowly over the far angle of the goalframe. Two minutes later, Debinha stormed down the right and was shaping to shoot when she was tackled by Yomira Pinzon, who did more than most to restrict the Brazilians throughout this one-sided encounter. After Debinha fired a twenty-five yard free-kick over the wall and just past Bailey's right-hand post, Brazil broke the deadlock in the nineteenth minute. Tamires - a marvellous fullback's performance - sent Debinha dashing down the left, from where she cut inside before delivering a marvellous cross to the far post, where the unmarked figure of Ary Borges headed home from inside the six-yard box. The goal was no more than Brazil deserved, and encouraged them to seek more in their quest for victory. Just three minutes after the goal, Kerolin rattled the crossbar, while on the half-hour, Luana secured possession and sent "La Selecao" rolling forward yet again. Bia Zaneratto fed Adriana, who raced down the left before playing in the player who set her off and running. Bailey dashed out to save at the feet of Bia Zaneratto, then tipped a Luana piledriver over the bar four minutes later after Panama failed to clear a Tamires free-kick. Brazil were relentless, and got their just desserts six minutes before half-time. Adriana sparked the move, but it was the overlapping figure of Tamires which made the possible inevitable. Her pinpoint cross picked out Ary Borges, who belted home the rebound from close range after Bailey had blocked her initial headed effort - 2-0. And so nearly three on the stroke of half-time, Bailey saving at the feet of Bia Zaneratto in the area as she looked to turn home a Tamires cross, with four other Brazilian players lurking with intent inside the penalty area. A certain contender for "Goal of the Tournament" came to pass in the 48th minute - a goal of sublime quality; a classic example of Brazilian football at its very best. Antonia fed Tamires, who sent it down the line to Debinha. She worked a one-two with Adriana before delivering a measured cross to the far post where Ary Borges was hat-trick-hunting. Not on this occasion, however, as, with her route to goal blocked, she back-heeled the ball into the stride of Bia Zaneratto, who swept the ball home in majestic fashion - a magnificent team goal, bristling with instinct and intuitive play.

A fourth goal was now their objective, the goalscorers combining in the 53rd minute, with Ary Borges' lobbed pass flicked past the post on the stretch by Bia Zaneratto. But the game was no longer a Brazilian footballing party laden with tricks and treats, as Panama had introduced a gatecrasher who added a dimension to proceedings which gave the South Americans reason to be wary. Riley Tanner was one of Panama's shining stars at the qualifying tournament in Auckland in February, and she showed in this half-hour cameo that she was far from out of her depth when up against the big guns, first giving Brazil cause for concern in the 58th minute. Pouncing on a stray Brazilian pass, she set off on a run before inviting Carina Baltrip-Reyes to chance her arm. The hitherto untroubled figure of Leticia suddenly had reason to get her gloves dirty, and was called into action again six minutes later as Marta Cox and Emily Cedeno combined to send Tanner tearing through the Brazilian backline. Leticia hurtled well out of her penalty area to block the opportunity, nearly handling the ball inadvertently in the process. Warnings heeded, normal "Selecao" service soon resumed, an Ary Borges corner cannoning off captain Rafaelle straight to Bailey, who was relieved to see Kerolin's shot on the run from twenty yards skid past the post seconds later. In the 68th minute, a tantalising Tamires cross intended for Ary Borges was cleared in vital fashion by Pinzon, but she was powerless to prevent Brazil's fourth goal materialising two minutes later. Tamires worked a one-two with Kerolin before playing the ball inside to substitute Geyse. Her teasing cross found Ary Borges ghosting in behind the defence, and she headed home between the legs of Bailey to complete her hat-trick. After Gabi Nunes had spurned a shooting chance presented to her by Tamires - it must be said, Brazil were rather wasteful in front of goal, with many of their efforts lacking accuracy - Rafaelle went close in the 81st minute after Kerolin's deft back-heel invited Adriana to set up a scoring chance. The legendary Marta had been introduced to the fray by this time, and in stoppage time she was afforded the chance to score from a free-kick inside the 'D'. Bailey was well placed to thwart her attempt, and was relieved to see Duda Sampaio rattle the near post side-netting after Tanner was denied a late Panamanian consolation goal by Leticia's alertness. Brazil were far too good for the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals debutants, however, and this four-goal win should provide the platform for them to progress to the knockout phase of the competition, given France and Jamaica, the other teams in Group F, drew their opening encounter. Brazil:          Leticia; Antonia (Bruninha, 59), Lauren, Rafaelle, Tamires; Ary Borges (Marta, 75), Kerolin, Luana (Duda Sampaio, 75), Adriana; Bia Zaneratto (Gabi Nunes, 59), Debinha (Geyse, 59) Panama:     Bailey; Castillo, Pinzon, Vargas (Montenegro, 83), Baltrip-Reyes, Jaen (Natis, 46); Mills (E. Cedeno, 53), Quintero (Salazar, 65), Gonzalez, Cox (L. Cedeno, 79); Riley (Tanner, 53) Referee:     Cheryl Foster (Wales)