Courtesy: The Timaru Herald


Brazil full of futsal flair

By Jacob Page

12/06/2010

A Brazilian residents team showed too much flair for a gallant New Zealand in the first futsal test match held in Timaru.

More than 150 people turned up to the SBS Centre last night to watch the match, which Brazil won 5-3.

It was a fast-paced game, and with time being stopped every time the ball went out of play, the 20-minute halves were action-packed.

The Brazilians opened the scoring after just 38 seconds through Leonardo Da Silva. However, New Zealand struck back a minute later through Michael Sannun.

New Zealand were not intimidated by the naturally flashy Brazilians, and a sloppy back pass gave New Zealand the lead as Darren Hart tucked the ball in the bottom right corner of the net.

The skill on display was too hot to handle, it seemed, as a false fire alarm brought a halt to play for 20 minutes midway through the first half.

The break did not help the New Zealanders, as the Brazilians scored three goals in the final eight minutes of the half to take a 4-2 lead in to half time.

The second half was a more intense affair, with the defenders having the better of the opening 10 minutes.

New Zealand's James Vaughan and former Timaru player Peter Rae looked promising with the ball at their feet, but could not put the ball into the goal.

Scrambling defence from the New Zealanders kept the Brazilians quiet.

The home team's most experienced player, Bakr Saudi, had a high work rate throughout the game. Brazil's theatrical defensive player, Pedro Batista de Freites, looked likely to add to his first-half goal, but it was his efforts defensively that proved more telling.

Da Silva grabbed his second with six minutes left, before Hart grabbed his double for New Zealand, two minutes before fulltime.

New Zealand will continue their preparations for the world championships in Kuala Lumpur.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com