Brazil serves notice with rout of host China, 4-0

Brazil’s men have won the World Cup five times.

Now Brazil’s women look as if they can win their first, establishing themselves among the favorites by thrashing host China, 4-0, in a Group D game Saturday in Wuhan with two goals each from Marta and Cristiane.

Marta is now the tournament’s top scorer with four.

The victory makes Brazil an overwhelming favorite to win Group D, which is likely to give the South Americans a clear path to the semifinals.

China Coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors seemed convinced of Brazil’s chances, calling the South Americans “the best team in the world” during a postgame news conference.

“If before we thought we should beat Brazil, yeah, that was a dream of course,” she said.

The FIFA player of year, Marta has scored four goals in two games, and she also assisted on her team’s two other scores.

“I’m the striker, so I try my best to look for scoring chances,” Marta said. “Usually if I have a chance I will shoot myself, but if my teammates have good chances, I kick the ball to them.”

Denmark 2, New Zealand 0 -- The Danes stayed alive in Group D, getting goals from Katrine Pedersen and Cathrine Paaske Sorensen. Denmark and China each have three points.

Australia 1, Norway 1 -- Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored in the fifth minute for the Norwegians, but Lisa De Vanna salvaged a tie for the Aussies with a goal in the 83rd minute in a Group C game at Hangzhou.

Canada 4, Ghana 0 -- Christine Sinclair scored two goals and the Canadians eliminated Ghana. Sophie Schmidt and Martina Franko also scored for Canada, which plays Australia next with a quarterfinal berth on the line.