Borges bags hat-trick as Brazil breeze past Panama in opener

ADELAIDE :Ary Borges scored a hat-trick on her Women's World Cup debut to help Brazil thrash debutants Panama 4-0 at the Hindmarsh stadium on Monday and get their campaign off to a winning start.

The result takes Brazil top of Group F, after France were held to a 0-0 draw by Jamaica on Sunday. Brazil, whose best finish at the global showpiece was runners-up in 2007, have now won all nine of their opening Women's World Cup matches.

"We're happy, the first game is always difficult. Four goals, and we played quite well," Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said. "I think Borges is happy as well, scoring a hat-trick, she played well today..."

The tone was set for Panama in the first minute when Brazil's Adriana raced through and stabbed a shot at goalkeeper Yenith Bailey, before Debinha and Antonia blazed attempts over the bar within the opening six minutes of the match.

The South American heavyweights continued to launch waves of attacks on Panama's backline as they pressed for an opener, which arrived in the 19th minute when Debinha floated in a cross that was headed home by an unmarked Borges at the back post.

Borges netted her second of the match 20 minutes later as she poked in a rebound after having a header saved by Bailey.

The Brazilians turned on the style in the second half as Borges set up Bia Zaneratto with a backheel flick for the third in the 48th minute to finish off a well-worked team goal.

Borges put the icing on the cake in the 70th when she got on the end of a cross from substitute Geyse to become the first Brazilian to score a hat-trick on their Women's World Cup debut.

The 23-year-old was substituted minutes later, walking off the pitch to be replaced by veteran Marta in what felt like the passing of the torch for the