Brazil have started their defence of the FIFA Futsal World Cup title with a 4-1 win over Japan at the Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima. The result leaves the reigning champions perched alongside Portugal at the top of Group C, although the Europeans currently hold a narrow advantage on goal difference. The Brazilians were good value for their win, secured by goals from Wilde (2), Neto and Vinicius, but they were made to work hard by a Japan side that has improved markedly since losing 12-1 in this same fixture four years ago. There never appeared any prospect of a similar scoreline this time around, and it took until the 14th minute – thanks to some stout defending and defiant goalkeeping from Hisamitsu Kawahara – for the Asians’ rearguard to be breached. Even then, the goal had a touch of good fortune to it, with Wilde’s low right-foot shot taking a deflection off Kaoru Morioka that diverted it into the net. Injury was restricting the Brazilians’ star man, Falcao, to only fleeting appearances on the field, so it was left to others to share the goalscoring burden – and Neto was the next to step up. Less than a minute of the second half had been played, in fact, when the defender snatched on some slack passing in the Japanese defence and rifled a right foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner. Brazil were growing in confidence by this stage, and within two minutes they were three up after the grounded Ari somehow managed to square the ball for Wilde to score his second of the match. Vinicius made it 4-0 two minutes later, squeezing the ball home from a seemingly impossible angle, although Japan at least had the consolation of scoring the game’s best goal – a brilliant left-foot shot from Kotaro Inaba that flashed into the net off the inside of the post. FIFA
GMT 22:55 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Manchester United retain world's richest club statusGMT 05:19 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Man City midfielder Fernandinho signs contract extension to 2020GMT 13:46 2018 Friday ,19 January
Borussia Dortmund deny contact with Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick AubameyangGMT 13:38 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Chelsea edge into FA Cup fourth round, Bournemouth rockedGMT 10:38 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Arsenal 'target' Malcom faces rap over videoGMT 07:49 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Football: Giggs set to be named as Wales bossGMT 07:08 2018 Monday ,15 January
Sevilla let Real off hook with Alaves defeatGMT 07:02 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Everton in talks to sign Arsenal's Walcott

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor