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The two favourites get first points in the Copa Lagos after beating South Africa and England in event?s opening
England’s contest not enough to bend Brazil
England had a tough debut in the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer 2011, held this weekend in the Eko Atlantic Beach of the Nigerian city. They never lost face to the game and they could even get close to Brazil in the score in the third period, but the truth is that hitting the sand for the first time, and facing the Tetracampeão is a really harsh scenario to find oneself in. And it can turn even worse, if Benjamin decides to start building his team’s victory the sooner the better, just as he did today only some seconds after kick-off. Getting ahead in the score that early gave the new Guga’s Verdeamarela the floor they feel more comfortable on. With numbers on their side, the Brazilian magic is ready to display their best version, the one hardest to counteract.
Having the match precisely where they wanted it to be, Brazil widened the score up to 3-0 before the first break. One of the Canarinha’s finest, Buru, and one of the new team’s new talents, Rafinha, managed that advantage for their side before the horn, with the latter to repeat at the beginning of the second period to make it 4-0.
England thought then that it was enough, that they also wanted to have their say in the game. Marcos nets were not that far, after all, and Mitchell Day was the one to light the way to them with the first hit for the European side. Brazil did not like a bit seeing their authority contested, and Marcos himself took the personal revenge, sending a long-range missile Webb could not reach. That was not enough to stop the awakened English spirit, though, and Black fired the second ball in for his team shortening back the gap in the board.
Bowes’ side had finally found their place in the game, and that last period needed to be their final assault to the Brazilian dominion. The first step to be taken was strengthening the lines in the rearguard, as any mistake would absolutely be taken advantage of by Guga’s side. Minutes began passing away, and England were successful in this first directive, but, unfortunately for them, it was never easy to beat the Brazilian defense. Blake finally managed to do it, rocketing a free kick in right from the halfway line when the countdown signaled 2 minutes to go. These 120 seconds turned to be not enough for the English, who tried everything only to see their efforts punished with the Brazilian sixth goal, by Serginho.
Goals: 1-0: Benjamin, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Buru, min. 5 (1); 3-0: Rafinha, min. 3 (1); 4-0: Rafinha, min. 8 (2); 4-1: Day, min. 7 (2); 5-1: Marcos, min. 2 (2); 5-2: Black, min. 1 (2); 5-3: Blake, min. 2 (3); 6-3: Serginho, min. 0 (3)
Nigeria rules over South Africa to lead the table
Nigeria made a solid first step in this Copa Lagos they are hosting. Audu’s team’s objective is lifting the Cup on Sunday, and they starred a good beginning to that, with a brilliant victory over South Africa. The Beach Eagles superiority was clearly noticed during the first stages of the game, in which Abuh, Tale and Olawale, twice, made the score 0-4 at the beginning of the second period. Notwithstanding, the match was not over…
Deutschmann was the first to point that things were not to be that easy for the hosts, and his two goals began a stroke exchange that keep excitement till the end of the game. South Africans were definitely there to fight back the Nigerian party, and although Tale seemed to finish the match with his second goal for the 2-5, the youngest of the Ndlovu’s cut that distance again with the 3-5 with yet 4 minutes to go.
But Tale’s will was too strong to bend… Nigerian’s number 6 bagged his third today and secured a safe distance again for his side shortly afterwards. Time was running out, and the three goal gap was too wide for South Africa, who even saw the seventh ball to kiss their nets, after Emeka’s successful attempt. Precisely this last breath goal raises Nigeria to the first position of the table, having scored one goal more than Brazil. It is too soon, though to think anything is decided, and Nigeria will need to keep fighting if they want to keep the cup at home.
Goals: 0-1: Abuh, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Olawale, min. 8 (1); 0-3: Tale, min. 6 (1); 0-4: Olawale, min. 9 (2); 1-4: Deutschmann, min. 7 (2); 2-4: Deutschmann, min. 6 (3); 2-5: Tale, min. 5 (3); 3-5: N. Ndlovu, min. 4 (3); 3-6: Tale, min. 2 (3); 3-7: Emeka, min. 0 (3).
Results today
Brazil 6 – 3 England
South Africa 3 – 7 Nigeria
Matches for tomorrow
Saturday, December 17th, 2011
15:00 – Brazil vs South Africa
16:15 – Nigeria vs England
