Brazil see off battling Ukraine

Two games and two wins put four-time champions Brazil in a great spot going forward

source: fifa.com (http://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup)

Tahiti 2013 top scorer Bruno Xavier’s brace helped four-time FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup champions Brazil ease to victory against Group C’s bottom side UkraineA Seleção now lead the group with their 100 per cent record intact heading into the final round of matches.

Ukraine kept the match interesting, and it was close at the end of the second period, but Brazil’s superior skill shone through and Bruno Xavier’s deadly finishing was too much for Ukraine, who have yet to record a point at Tahiti 2013.

Sergii Kucherenko’s side came out with intent, applying early pressure on their Brazilian counterparts, but they did not make it count and were punished in the fifth minute. Bruno Xavier opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Bruno doubled their lead in the opening period with what was the 1,600th goal in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup history, a fitting milestone for the only player to appear in all seven editions of the tournament.

Despite going behind, Ukraine stuck to their plan with tactical order, pressure and patience. Brazil’s goalkeeper Mao pulled off several fine saves, but could not keep out Oleg Zborovskyi’s header.

Ukraine continued to apply pressure, knowing that a defeat would all-but see them packing their bags, and levelled the scoring with a long range free kick from goalkeeper Vlodymyr Hladchenko. Remarkably, the side’s other stopper Vitalii Sydorenko had spectacularly scored in the previous round – making it the first time at a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup that both custodians had scored for a side.

The Zhovto-Blakytni’s valiant efforts were to be in vain though, as Bruno Xavier was Brazil’s hero again. After his hat-trick in the opening match, he grabbed the vital goal to put Brazil ahead with a few minutes remaining. Daniel sealed the victory just before the final whistle.

The defeat leaves Ukraine bottom of Group C but not yet out of the competition, and Brazil need at most a draw in their final match against Senegal to guarantee their safe passage into the final stages.

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