Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - In one of the most anticipated match-ups of the first round, the Samba Queens of Brazil danced to a 2-1 halftime lead over former champion Norway in Group B action at RFK Stadium Wednesday night.

Coming into the match, Norway pipped debutante France 2-0, while Brazil blanked South Korea 3-0 at the weekend in their respective tournament-openers.

Daniela fired the South Americans into the lead in the 18th minute with perhaps the goal of the tournament to date when she slalomed 40 yards down the middle of the field before unleashing a shot into the bottom-left corner of that net past Bente Nordby from beyond the area.

Rosana, who had been tearing up Norway's formation with her glancing runs forward, doubled the Brazilians first-half lead when perfectly timed a free kick from the right, heading home past Nordby at the far post.

Five minutes before the break, Dagny Mellgren hoped to pull one back for Norway, but failed to put the ball on target on a cross from Marianne Pettersen.

Pettersen finally gave Norway something to celebrate when she sent in a smashing header past Andreia in stoppage time moments before the break -- breathing energy into the Scandinavian squad.

Brazil also had the first opportunity of the match inside five minutes when Katia sprung Maicon in the left side of the area, but the spry striker struck the ball into the side netting.

Two minutes later, Mellgren struck a shot on the Brazilian net after she ran onto a through pass and flicked the ball on goal. But Andreia was there to save the Brazilians.

On 10 minutes, Formiga's first touch failed her from 15 yards on a look that would have been a sure goal, but she nailed it over the woodwork on a service from Tania.

The South Americans looked the brighter in the opening moments with their skilled brand of the beautiful game.

Katia, a handful for South Korea Saturday, also did well to wreak havoc on the Norwegians in the first half -- firing on net in the 20th minute for Nordby to save. Katia then forced the Norway 'keeper into a diving save in the 24th minute.

Norway was forced to play it close to the chest in the early going as they were charged with five fouls in first eight minutes.

MATCH NOTES: Norway is the only side to beat the U.S. in Women's World Cup play. Brazil and Norway bet at both the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 World Cup -- both in the third-place match. Norway took the bronze in '96 at the Atlanta Games, but Brazil avenged the loss with a third-place finish at the USA '99. Ahead of the 2003 World Cup, Norway was ranked second, and Brazil was listed sixth in the world by FIFA. Norway's Dagny Mellgren won the 2000 Olympics with a 'golden goal' over the U.S.