Brazil, whose best finish at the global showpiece was runners-up in 2007, have now won all nine of their opening Women’s World Cup matches.
“We’re happy, the first game is always difficult. Four goals, and we played quite well,” Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said. “I think Borges is happy as well, scoring a hat-trick, she played well today…”
The tone was set for Panama in the first minute when Brazil’s Adriana raced through and stabbed a shot at goalkeeper Yenith Bailey, before Debinha and Antonia blazed attempts over the bar within the opening six minutes of the match.
The South American heavyweights continued to launch waves of attacks on Panama’s backline as they pressed for an opener, which arrived in the 19th minute when Debinha floated in a cross that was headed home by an unmarked Borges at the back post.
Borges netted her second of the match 20 minutes later as she poked in a rebound after having a header saved by Bailey.
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The Brazilians turned on the style in the second half as Borges set up Bia Zaneratto with a backheel flick for the third in the 48th minute to finish off a well-worked team goal.
Borges put the icing on the cake in the 70th when she got on the end of a cross from substitute Geyse to become the first Brazilian to score a hat-trick on their Women’s World Cup debut.
The 23-year-old was substituted minutes later, walking off the pitch to be replaced by veteran Marta in what felt like the passing of the torch for the Brazilian team.
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Marta enjoyed a lively cameo, registering an effort on target with a free-kick, but the forward was unable to add a record-extending 18th World Cup goal to her tally.
Panama, who were pinned in their own half for much of the contest, had keeper Bailey to thank for
keeping the score down as she made a string of excellent saves to thwart attempts from Luana, Adriana and Rafaelle.
Panama coach Nacho Quintana acknowledged the gap to Brazil but said the result did not reflect his side’s quality, telling reporters: “We’ve the capacity to be within the same tournament as teams such as Brazil, but we cannot be on the same level.
“We cannot hide it but to be able to advance we also need to accept our reality, which is not 4-0.”
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Brazil next face France in a mouthwatering clash on Saturday in Brisbane before Panama take on Jamaica in Perth.
