The Brazilian women proved to be as strong as their men when they smashed Mexico 5-0 for a semi-final ticket into the women's soccer tournament at the Athens Olympic Games Friday evening.

Forward Cristiane and midfielder Formiga each scored two goals while Marta added another for Brazil at Heraklio.

Cristiane jumped high to head home a left flank cross from Rosana with 25 minutes into the game.

Merely four minutes later, Rosana fed a comfortable cross, again from the left, just meters in front of the Mexico's goalmouth before a running Formiga tapped in for a 2-0 advantage.

In the 49th minute, Cristiane sprinted into the box to beat Mexican goalie Pamela Tajonar for her double, and the third for the South Americans.

Another five minutes later, Formiga rushed ahead within the penalty area, hammering home her second for an unbeatable lead.

It took another six minutes for Brazil to complete its scoring spree when Marta received the ball in the midfield, beat a pair of Mexican defenders to fire home the fifth and last goal of the lop- sided match.

Mexico only made a slight scare in the 72nd minute with an on- goal shot.

With the victory, Brazil will play Sweden in the semifinal after the latter disposed Australia 2-1 in another quarterfinal of the night.

Earlier, world champion Germany beat Nigeria 2-1 while the United States eliminated Japan with the identical score for their semifinal berths.

Brazil, who stunned host Greece 7-0 and beat Australia 1-0 in the group preliminaries, is the reigning Pan-American champion but finished 4th in the previous two Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua