BY Obakeng Maje

Brazil overcame Argentina two nil (2-0) in the final of the 8-Nation International Tournament at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday (3 June), needing extra time to overcome their old foes.

The match got off to an energetic and fast-paced start with play flowing end to end between the two evenly matched opponents.

Brazil had the first chance when Joao Filipo’s free kick was tipped over by Walter Benitez.
At the other end Argentine midfielder Alan Ruiz came even closer when his free kick forced Matheus de Oliveira into making a full stretched dive to keep the ball out of goal.

Four minutes later and Benitez was again in action as he rushed out to beat Adelmison Bispo Jr to a long ball, the Argentine keeper giving away a free kick just outside the box after bringing down his opponent, receiving a yellow card for his troubles.

Argentina then had two chances in quick succession as Carlos Ruiz had a near post drive saved before Jonathan Valle headed a powerful effort just wide.

Bispo Jr looked up for it after the break and his lively runs soon had the Argentine defence under pressure.

It was from a corner though that Brazil came close to scoring as Misael Bueno went very close with his header, getting up well amongst a crowd of players.

In the 55th minute it was Argentina’s turn to attack and Alan Ruiz nearly looped in a header, after he had done well to hang in the air long enough to make contact.

Bispo again demonstrated his pace on 63 minutes, stretching the Argentina defence before having his near post shot saved.

Ruiz then saw his curling and dipping drive miss by a few inches as chances on goal remained evenly shared.

The remainder of the 90 minutes remained tight, with no real clear-cut chances in the box the game went into 30 minutes of extra time.

It was Argentina who looked more dangerous in the first half of extra time, putting the Brazil goal under constant pressure, though not really coming close to scoring.

But it was Brazil who were to finally break the deadlock, just a minute into the second period of extra time as Bispo Jr picked the ball up out wide, drove goal wards and then fired in a low left-footed drive from 18-yards.

Argentina came back strongly as they desperately tried to get back into the game.
But when Bispo Jr went on another breathtaking solo run in the 115th minute it earned Brazil a penalty after he was brought down by Valle.

Felipe made no mistake from the spot to secure the 2-0 win for Brazil.

BY Obakeng Maje

Brazil beat Japan 4-1 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday (30 May) evening to finish top of Group B in the 8-Nation International Tournament.

Brazil will now meet South Africa in one semi-final, while Japan faces Argentina in the other.

The match got off to a fairly pedestrian start with both teams happy to push and probe for gaps.
Play was neat and compact, but lacked in terms of flair and goal-mouth action. 

The teams found themselves evenly matched with early chances for Japan when Ryota Tanabe fired just over from outside the box and then at the other end Jean Deretti helped the ball goalwards with his head, but it was an easy save for Masatoshi Kushibiki.

For a team as well organised as Japan, the goal they conceded after 33 minutes was an uncharacteristic mistake as keeper Kushibiki tried to play the ball to a defender instead gifting the ball to Victor Andrade, who drilled in a low shot in at the near post.

Six minutes later it was a more typical Brazilian goal that lead to their second, a slick passing move seeing the ball worked to Henrique Ribeiro on the right wing, he in turn unselfishly squaring to Bruno Mendes for a simple tap in.

There were also chances for Japan, but Shiota Sakaki and Tanabe sent decent efforts just wide.

It took the South American side just six second half minutes to increase their lead, substitute Adelmison Bispo Jr scoring with a powerful low drive across the keeper.

On the hour mark Brazil extended their lead to four when Misael Bueno broke down the right, before setting up Bruno Mendes to turn and shoot into the far post.

Japan were close to pulling one back in the 63rd minute, but a brave header from Tanabe went wide, and resulted in him being taken off injured.

Bispo Jr should have added a fifth after a defensive mistake, but curled the ball wide of goal.
With 15 minutes to go there was a rare chance for Japan as Takuma Arano fired into the side-netting.

There was however to be a late consolation for the Asian side when Shuto Minami was taken down in the box by Luiz Conde in injury time, Minami himself scoring comfortably from the spot.