Brazil's Marta celebrates after scoring against the United States in the first half of their semi-final at the FIFA 2007 Women's World Cup in Hangzhou. Marta struck twice as Brazil won 4-0. - AP

HANGZHOU, China (AP):

THE STREAK is over, and so is the United States' bid for a third Women's World Cup championship.

Brazil and their star player, Marta, put on a dazzling performance against the Americans and cruised to a 4-0 victory in the semi-finals yesterday, ending the U.S. unbeaten streak at 51 games and sending the Brazilians into their first title match against Germany on Sunday.

Brazil went ahead on an own-goal in the 20th minute and Marta made it 2-0 soon after. Cristiane and Marta added goals in the second half, with Marta becoming the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals.

The U.S. played the final 45 minutes with 10 players after midfielder Shannon Boxx was sent off in first-half injury time for a contentious second yellow card.

The Americans play Norway in Sunday's third-place game.

Outplayed

Bidding for another title to go with championships in 1991 and 1999, the U.S. were outplayed and outhustled by the Brazilians in their worst defeat in any World Cup match. The semi-final loss was a repeat of the 2003 event when the Americans were eliminated by Germany.

"We could have come out stronger, I think, but today was Brazil's day," American striker Abby Wambach said. "I'm heartbroken.

"The first goal was kind of a fluke goal, then Marta comes down on the second goal and then we go down on the red card. Things were not falling for us today."

In the 20th minute, Formiga sent in a corner, which bounced just short of the goal. Attempting to head it behind, midfielder Leslie Osborne headed it into the net between goalkeeper Briana Scurry and Lori Chalupny.

Scurry, playing in her 164th game for the U.S., was surprisingly picked ahead of Hope Solo, who started the first four games. Solo gave up two goals in the first match but was not scored upon for the following 300 minutes. Scurry, meanwhile, hadn't played a full game in three months.

Marta, Brazil's creative striker, struck seven minutes later. She evaded a half-dozen players and cracked a left-footed shot from 15 yards that hugged the ground and beat Scurry diving to her left. She got her left hand on the ball but couldn't stop it.

Forced to push for the goal in the second half, the U.S. left themselves exposed at the back with Maycon, Daniela and Cristiane narrowly missing in the opening minutes. Cristiane finally broke through in the 56th to make it 3-0, left-footing a shot home in a one-on-one contest with Scurry.

"Tonight we played as a team, and we have not always done that," Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said. "We have the individual talent and this game was a complete team effort."

The Americans had only two shots on goal in the first half and Wambach was never a factor. Kristine Lilly, playing in a record fifth World Cup, had the best U.S. chance in the second half but her point-blank shot landed in Andreia's hands in the 63rd.

After the third goal, Brazil slowed the play as the Americans kept pressing for a score.

Brazil's last flurry came in the 79th when Marta showed off all her talent. Off the left wing, she faked around U.S. defender Tina Ellertson, raced into the box, dummied around another and beat Scurry with a shot that drew a huge ovation from a crowd of 48,000.