Brazil Ease Past Canada in Opener
(FIFA.com) 28 Nov 2003
Brazil 2-0 Canada
Carvalho (56') Brazil, Nilmar (84') Brazil
Brazil confirmed their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites after running out comfortable 2-0 winners against a stubborn, well-drilled Canadian team in Group C’s opening match of the FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 at the Rashid stadium, Dubai. Second-half strikes from Daniel Carvalho, after his twice-taken penalty had been saved, and Nilmar finally brought a smile to the face of coach Paqueta and hundreds of yellow-clad supporters following a disappointing opening half.
Canada opened brightly with Sita-Taty Matondo, looking like a slim DaMarcus Beasley, using his electric pace to good effect down the right flank. Brazil, playing three up front but without injured striker Dagoberto, were, typically, taking time to find their rhythm. However they almost went ahead inside the first ten minutes when Sao Paulo midfielder Kleber’s skimming shot was finger-tipped round the post by a diving Alim Karim.
The game was being played at a fast and furious pace in the early stages which suited Dale Mitchell’s Canucks. Iain Hume, sporting a red Mohican, jinked round a couple of defenders before his dangerous cross was cleared. Then, just before the half-hour mark, all-action midfielder Josh Simpson shrugged off two challenges and whizzed in a 25-yarder that cleared the bar by inches.
The young Selecao were slowly beginning to dominate and when the second half commenced they had a golden opportunity to make it count. Referee Eduardo Iturralde, who had seconds previously booked Kleber for diving in the box, pointed to the spot when number 10 Nilmar was brought down after exquisitely nutmegging his defender.
Waving Leafs
Daniel Carvalho stepped up to slot it home low to the keepers left, but as he turned to celebrate the Spanish official, spotting an infringement, called him back to take it again. This time Karim blocked the nervous shot to trigger the waving of a sea of Maple Leaf flags.
Sensing Paqueta’s team were about to turn it on, the Brazilian contingent together with adopted locals, turned the loudspeakers up a few decibels and the South Americans suddenly found their pitch. After a fine knock down by Nilmar, Daniel Carvalho made up for the penalty miss by cutting his volley high into the top corner (1-0, 56).
“They (Canada) were marking us tightly so at half-time I told my players to move around more and create spaces,” said Brazil coach Paqueta after the match.
Canada, who had been guilty of giving the ball away, now had a great chance to equalise. After racing onto a delicious through ball, the dangerous Hume beat one defender, but, one-on-one with goalkeeper Henrique Fernando, saw his left-foot shot pushed around the post (73).
“I cannot fault him. It was a good first touch and he hit the target. Their keeper pulled out a fine stop,” lamented Canadian coach Mitchell.
Patience
As the match entered its latter stages, the long legs of Flamengo’s Andrezinho were beginning to become more prominent. First, he scratched the paintwork with a curling 20-yard effort, then hit the side netting after a great through ball from Daniel. Left again in oceans of space down the left, his cross-shot was palmed by Karim to Nilmar, who coolly clipped it over the sprawled keeper and high into the net (2-0, 84).
“The first game of a championship is always difficult especially when you come up against Brazil,” said Mitchell later. “We played it defensively, just as we intended, but with their quality and patience they got on top of us.”
“This is the third game we’ve played together,” added Paqueta with a frown, “so we needed time. But we gradually got better. We have an advantage in that we possess experience but I’m almost preparing the team during the competition.”
(FIFA.com) 28 Nov 2003
Brazil 2-0 Canada
Carvalho (56') Brazil, Nilmar (84') Brazil
Brazil confirmed their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites after running out comfortable 2-0 winners against a stubborn, well-drilled Canadian team in Group C’s opening match of the FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 at the Rashid stadium, Dubai. Second-half strikes from Daniel Carvalho, after his twice-taken penalty had been saved, and Nilmar finally brought a smile to the face of coach Paqueta and hundreds of yellow-clad supporters following a disappointing opening half.
Canada opened brightly with Sita-Taty Matondo, looking like a slim DaMarcus Beasley, using his electric pace to good effect down the right flank. Brazil, playing three up front but without injured striker Dagoberto, were, typically, taking time to find their rhythm. However they almost went ahead inside the first ten minutes when Sao Paulo midfielder Kleber’s skimming shot was finger-tipped round the post by a diving Alim Karim.
The game was being played at a fast and furious pace in the early stages which suited Dale Mitchell’s Canucks. Iain Hume, sporting a red Mohican, jinked round a couple of defenders before his dangerous cross was cleared. Then, just before the half-hour mark, all-action midfielder Josh Simpson shrugged off two challenges and whizzed in a 25-yarder that cleared the bar by inches.
The young Selecao were slowly beginning to dominate and when the second half commenced they had a golden opportunity to make it count. Referee Eduardo Iturralde, who had seconds previously booked Kleber for diving in the box, pointed to the spot when number 10 Nilmar was brought down after exquisitely nutmegging his defender.
Waving Leafs
Daniel Carvalho stepped up to slot it home low to the keepers left, but as he turned to celebrate the Spanish official, spotting an infringement, called him back to take it again. This time Karim blocked the nervous shot to trigger the waving of a sea of Maple Leaf flags.
Sensing Paqueta’s team were about to turn it on, the Brazilian contingent together with adopted locals, turned the loudspeakers up a few decibels and the South Americans suddenly found their pitch. After a fine knock down by Nilmar, Daniel Carvalho made up for the penalty miss by cutting his volley high into the top corner (1-0, 56).
“They (Canada) were marking us tightly so at half-time I told my players to move around more and create spaces,” said Brazil coach Paqueta after the match.
Canada, who had been guilty of giving the ball away, now had a great chance to equalise. After racing onto a delicious through ball, the dangerous Hume beat one defender, but, one-on-one with goalkeeper Henrique Fernando, saw his left-foot shot pushed around the post (73).
“I cannot fault him. It was a good first touch and he hit the target. Their keeper pulled out a fine stop,” lamented Canadian coach Mitchell.
Patience
As the match entered its latter stages, the long legs of Flamengo’s Andrezinho were beginning to become more prominent. First, he scratched the paintwork with a curling 20-yard effort, then hit the side netting after a great through ball from Daniel. Left again in oceans of space down the left, his cross-shot was palmed by Karim to Nilmar, who coolly clipped it over the sprawled keeper and high into the net (2-0, 84).
“The first game of a championship is always difficult especially when you come up against Brazil,” said Mitchell later. “We played it defensively, just as we intended, but with their quality and patience they got on top of us.”
“This is the third game we’ve played together,” added Paqueta with a frown, “so we needed time. But we gradually got better. We have an advantage in that we possess experience but I’m almost preparing the team during the competition.”