AP, Brasilia :
Brazil’s women’s soccer team held on for a 0-0 draw with the United States to win the International Tournament of Brasilia on Sunday.
Brazil had the tiebreaker in the final because it finished with the best result in group play at the four-team competition in the nation’s capital.
Five-time world player of the year Marta and the rest of the Brazilians celebrated in front of a crowd of more than 11,000 at the Mane Garrincha, which hosted seven World Cup matches earlier this year.
Brazil controlled possession during most of the game but the Americans pressured late and almost scored a winner just before the final whistle when a header by defender Becky Sauerbrunn struck the crossbar after being tipped by Brazilian goalkeeper Luciana.
The U.S. also had a late goal disallowed for offside. Brazil appealed for a penalty earlier in the second half.
Brazil had won its previous three matches. It beat Argentina 4-0, the U.S. 3-2 and China 4-1. Marta scored a hat trick in the come-from-behind win against the Americans a week ago.
Abby Wambach, contending for this year’s world player of the year award along with Marta, had a few chances off headers in each half.
The U.S. opened with a 1-1 draw against China and closed with a 7-0 rout of Argentina. It only qualified for the final because it had a better goal differential than China.
The competition in Brazil marked the final match of the year for the Americans.
China finished third after a 0-0 draw against Argentina in the first game of the day at the Mane Garrincha Stadium.
It was the sixth edition of the international tournament in Brazil. The hosts had won four of the previous tournaments, finishing second to Canada in 2010. It was the second year in a row the competition was being played in Brasilia, and the first time the Americans participated.
The tournament served as preparation for the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Brazil, the U.S. and China have qualified.
