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Brazil conquers fourth title of Indoor Soccer
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-20 15:00 RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil won on Sunday the final of FIFA's sixth World Indoor Soccer in Brazil 2008, after defeating Spain 4-3 in penalty shootout after a draw of 2-2 in the regulation time and in the added time.
It is Brazil's fouth indoor soccer world title. The encounter took place at the Maracanazinho Gym in Rio de Janeiro. Two brilliant defenses made by the goalkeeper Franklin, made Brazil obtain again the title, which they lost in the World Championship of Guatemala 2000 in front of the same team of Spain. In that occasion, the Spanish team interrupted the sequence of consecutive titles obtained by Brazil who had won in 1989, 1992 and 1996. The final game of the sixth World Indoor Soccer in Brazil 2008 was balanced but also tense. The hosts, animated by the rematch and with the support of their fans, made pressure on the first half, which made the Spanish goalkeeper Amado felt great when defending their goal in at least four occasions. The first goal of the match was made by Brazilian Marquinhos, in a corner kick at the minute 25. When the fans were still celebrating, Falcao, who was playing despite a knee injury, was hit and had to withdraw and watch the match from the footstool with a bag of ice on his knee. Three minutes later, Torras took advantage of a fault made by the defense Gabriel to draw a goal, and the match remained tied until the minute 36, when a sharp shoot made by Vinicius placed Brazil again in the lead. However, Spain persisted and when there was only one minute left for the final, Alvaro draw a key goal and saved Spanish team. Whether it was the tiredness or excess in caution, none of the teams could alter the results, forcing the title to be defined in penalties. For that, Brazil replaced their goalkeeper Tiago by Franklin, who ended being the hero of the day when stopping the shoots made by Torras and Marcelo therefore restoring the crown to his team. |
