Brazil’s first goal in the history of the Women’s World Cup happened almost 22 years ago.
Defender Elane kicked and didn’t see the ball cross the line because there were too many people in front of her.
The scene took place on November 17, 1991 at the first Women’s Cup in history, hosted by China. That day, the Brazilian National Team played its first match in the tournament and beat Japan 1-0.
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“I remember that Sissi hit (the corner kick) in the middle of the area and the Japan goalkeeper came out, trying to punch the ball, but the ball slipped from her hand. When I saw it, the ball was on top of me. I controlled it and I kicked. As there were a lot of people in front, it was seconds of agony until I saw that the referee signaled the goal”, said Elane to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo.
That was Brazil’s only goal in the 1991 World Cup, as the team ended up losing both matches in a row to the United States, by 5-0, and to Sweden, by 2-0 – conceding a goal from Sweden’s Pia Sundhage, now coach of the Brazilian National Team – and was eliminated in the group stage.
But Elane would still participate in two other editions of the World Cup, in 1995 (falling in the first phase) and 1999 (reaching the semifinals).
