In a game marked by balance, Brazil drew 4-4 in normal time, went goalless in extra time and won 2-1 in the penalty shootout. This Saturday, the 22nd, the team led by Gilberto Costa will return to the court to face Mexico at 9:30 a.m.
Santos (SP) - Brazil got off to a winning start at the Beach Soccer Brazil Mundialito, a competition being held on Gonzaga Beach in Santos (SP). Against a Japan team that was hard to mark and very dangerous when it came to breaking the deadlock with goalkeeper Terukina, the Brazilian team won the penalty shootout 2-1 (Bruno Xavier and Lucão for Brazil and Goto for Japan), after 4-4 in normal time (Bruno Xavier, Mauricinho, Mão and Catarino, for the Brazilians, Iso, Ozu, Goto and Bokinha, against, for the Asians) and 0-0 in extra time, in the match that ended earlier this Friday, the 21st, in the opening round of the tournament.
This Saturday, the 22nd, starting at 9:30 a.m. (Brasília time), Brazil return to the court to face Mexico with an unbeaten record: 24 wins in 24 matches - broadcast live on SporTV. Mão, Brazil's No. 1, was decisive in the victory over the Japanese, praised his opponents and praised Brazil's calmness.
"This game shows the quality of the Japanese team and that Brazil are working in the right direction. We already knew the difficulties we were going to face, Japan are a dangerous team, with good technique, who are evolving every year. We were behind twice and at difficult moments in the match but, with balance and, above all, calmness, we managed to come away with this victory. Everyone is to be congratulated on the win and now we have to think about Mexico," said goalkeeper Mão, who scored his 16th goal in a Brazilian shirt and saved two penalties.
This was Brazil's ninth win of 2016, maintaining their unbeaten run under coach Gilberto Costa. In terms of the record between the teams, it was the 18th yellow-green victory in as many meetings. In the other match of the first round, Italy beat Mexico 4-0.
Table - Beach Soccer Mundialito (Brasilia time)
Friday (Day 21)
Mexico 0-4 Italy
BRAZIL 4 (0p) (2) x (1) (0p) 4 Japan
Saturday (22nd)
9:30 a.m. - BRAZIL-Mexico (SporTV live)
10:45 - Italy-Japan
Sunday (23rd)
8:50 - Mexico vs. Japan
10 a.m. - BRAZIL vs. Italy (SporTV and TV Globo live)
More photos available at www.flickr.com/ dgwcomunicacao and on Facebook - Beach Soccer Brasil
The Mundialito de Beach Soccer Brasil is organized by FIFO7S (International Federation of Football 7 Society) through the São Paulo State Department of Sport, Leisure and Youth - Paulista Sports Incentive Law. Sponsors - Comgas, Apsen Farmacêutica, Nextel, Hydra Duchas e Torneiras Elétricas and Wickbold. Partnership - Nike and Dolly soft drinks. Support - Confederação de Beach Soccer do Brasil (CBSB), Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), Prefeitura de Santos - Secretaria de Esportes, Sportv and TV Globo. Promotion - Beach
