The ‘Golden Girls’ from Team Brazil
ANTEQUERA – Brazil won against Spain 3-1 in the women’s final at the 14th World University Futsal Championship. The South Americans had fortune on their side and scored first, fact that disrupted morale on the Iberian team whose gameplay was affected by it.
In the first five minutes César Arcones’ girls were the ones who controlled the ball, with Ana Sevilla and Marta Peñalver playing at a great level. However, the Brazilians could hold on and managed to turn the match around. In minute eleven, Spain almost scored on a counterattack which ended hitting the post.
On the next move the Brazilian goal came. Cristina Pereira, who had already given warning shots before, shot from afar and scored. That undermined morale of the host team which was slow to react. With 30 seconds left for the first half, the Brazilian goalkeeper stopped an attack that could have changed the rhythm of the game.
In the second half none of the teams were in control. The Spanish goalkeeper, Belén Uña, saved her team on several occasions, but she couldn’t save a shot from Caroline Da Silva in minute 19. With Spain focused on attack, Brazil scored again thanks to Ladiane Marcolan.
The Iberian girls tried to recover by using Ana Sevilla as goalkeeper/player, but all they got was a single goal from Amelia Romero (3-1).
RUSSIA-PORTUGAL
The bronze medal match featured Russia and Portugal. Unlike what happened in the final, it was a slow game from both teams which was decided in minute 32 thanks to a single goal scored by Russian Alena Zhizhova, who was the best player of the game.
(Source: WUC Futsal Media)