Crazy skills abound as Marta & Brazilians thrash U.S.

Did you happen to catch the U.S. Women’s soccer team’s World Cup semifinal game against Brazil on ESPN at 5 a.m. yesterday?

Didn’t think so.

I didn’t either, but a co-worker Tivo’d it and we watched it last night. I’d read good things about this version of the U.S. team, which was riding a 51-game unbeaten streak and the heavy favorite to win their third World Cup championship.

That is until they faced a hungry Brazil team, and particularly a ravenous and supremely talented MartaMarta highlights.

The midfielder, wearing the No. 10 shirt (donned by another famous Brazilian, Pele), Marta sliced and diced through the supposed Team USA juggernaut. She scored two spectacular goals and did things with the ball that would make Ronaldinho — another Brazilian booted maestroRonaldinho reel — stand up and samba.

So while I wasn’t happy to see the Yank women thrashed, the amazing skills of Marta made watching the 4-0 debacle well worthwhile.

If I had ESPN, I’d be sure to get up pre-dawn on Sunday morning to watch Marta and her Brazilian entourage take on Germany in the final.

Oh well, just have to be content to check out the Rockies, who — like Marta — couldn’t be putting on a better late-September show.