SHENYANG // Olympic title contenders Brazil and Germany drew 0-0 today in the opening match of Group F in the women's football tournament. The Germans kept Fifa player of the year Marta from threatening during most of the match, but failed to capitalise on their own scoring opportunities. Sandra Smisek hit the crossbar with a header in the 23rd minute, while Renata Costa hit the post with a header for Brazil in the 63rd. It was the first match between the teams since last year's World Cup final, when Germany came out on top for their second consecutive world title. "We are not satisfied with the score, it could've been a better result for us," the Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said. "But being the first match, it's not too bad." Germany and Brazil are trying to win the Olympic gold for the first time. Germany finished with bronze at Sydney in 2000 and at Athens in 2004, while Brazil earned silver in Athens and were fourth in Sydney and at Atlanta in 1996. The other teams in the group are North Korea and Nigeria, which are also scheduled to play later at Shenyang Olympic Stadium. The Olympic football tournament began two days before Friday's opening ceremony in Beijing to accommodate its lengthy schedule. The teams played an even match at the 60,000-capacity Shenyang Olympic Stadium, which was far from packed. "Germany dominated in the first half and played much better than Brazil," Barcellos said. "But in the second, we were able to impose our style and created more scoring chances." Marta was kept in check for most of the match, but had two great chances at the end and was still Brazil's most dangerous player. First, she missed from just in front of goal. Then, she had a shot stopped by the German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer after an elusive run past several defenders. "I think it was a good game for our team," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "The defence was perfect. We did quite well covering Marta." Brazil almost scored in the fourth minute when Daniela's curling free kick fooled Angerer and nearly went in. Germany's first chance came in the seventh minute, when Kerstin Garefrekes' cross into the area was just tipped away by goalkeeper Andreia. Marta drew cheers from the crowd for the first time in the 12th minute, dribbling past a defender on the left flank before setting up striker Cristiane for a close-range header that went over the bar. Seven minutes later, Marta's header also missed wide. In Germany's most dangerous scoring chances, Smisek's close-range header brushed off the bar, and Birgit Prinz's right-footed effort in the 41st minute went just wide. The Brazil midfielder Formiga had a chance in the 53rd minute, curling a shot that almost went in the upper-right corner. Three minutes later, Annike Krahn's header from a corner went just wide for Germany. Smisek the had a great chance to score, but she missed despite having only Andreia to beat inside the area. Brazil came right back, first with Cristiane's shot being deflected wide by Angerer, and then with Renata Costa's header off the ensuing corner striking the post. Marta shot wide when faced with an open goal in the 68th minute after Angerer had failed to control the ball in front of the net. She went close again in the 83rd minute, when her shot from the top of the area was saved by Angered, who made another stop soon after when Marta went past several defenders. On Saturday, Brazil play North Korea and Germany face Nigeria. *AP
