Talk:Brazil defeats China in 5-a-side football in group play at London Paralympics

Match comments
This is third and final match in this. This is the deciding game in group play. Both sides have 1 win and 1 draw and equal goal difference. Losing team can still make the finals if France loses to Turkey. If encounter on draw, then game goes to draw on lots. (Announcer saying this.) Both sides need to win.

Spectators thanked for being quiet as game silent.

About 150 people in attendance at start.

2 other journalists here besides ourselves in press tribune. ABout 6 volunteers up here with us and a Brazilian.

All football players wear blindfolds to insure they can level. Only goalkeepers are sighted. When ball is in play, spectators are asked to be keep silence so players can here the ball as it has bells in it. There are three guides for each team who tell players where the ball is. There are also walls that help to rebound sound for players to here better.

Players guided onto field with guides.

19 service men sitting in front of us. Brazil put hand over their hearts while their national ahthem played. Then did some bouncing following song being played. Chinese players stood at attention and they sang along with the anthem, audible from press area.

Only players starting on pitch were on the field during playing of national anthem. Following China anthem played, the Chinese players cheered loudly.

Weather was nice. I wore shorts and a few clouds but not cloudy.

There are four players and a goalie on the pitch at a time.

It is the deciding game in Group B.

Brazil kicked off.

You can hear the ball with the bells from where we are sitting. The players are a lot more handy in terms of touching eachother. As they cannot see, if some one falls down, others do fall over him in pursuit of ball. Lots more kicking each other. They stand really close to eachother when doing set pieces and to  the opposition  The footwork is pretty amazing at times. The ball can be played off the wall.

The court is much smaller than a standard court.

Early game played in China's half with Brazil having several corners and a few decent shots on goal. China has great dribbling skills but they cannot move it that far forward. China got good break away but could not translate it to shot on goal.

6:09 into first half.

6:56 and Brazil made a substitution. China at time looks like they are waddling around as their arms are out but elbows often close into their bodies,.

No offsides in this game.

Brazil is much more open in terms of playing style.

10:00 China had first corner.

Goalie for Japan is very loud in givign direction.

Brazil had a great scoring opportuntity but unable to get on goal. Chinese player went down. He was bouncing around and the team goalie is looking at him. They thought about substitutin him off but did not.

this is generally not a passing game.

Brazil had another good shot on goal that the goal keeper was licky to stop.

Brazil sends one player forward and China has 4 back and their goalkeeper trying to stop him.

China executed nice pass. Could not get it all the way down to pose serious challenge.

18:14 into first half.

At 20:44, Brazil made a substitution.

Each team gets one 1 minute time out. China took their time out at 20:58.

9 for China charged ball down field, shot but not quite on goal, dinging off the outside post.

21:34 7 for Brazil scored for Brazil! :D First goal of the game. Teammates jumped all over fiel and guides helped get them to team celebration. :D refs had to get them back out there, do eyepatch check. Goalies helped reposition their players on the court.

Brazilian player had problems with his hair and they took him off until that was sorted along with his eye patch.

Brazilian goalkeeper on floor writing at 23:45 after the keeper stopped the ball in his crotch area and then the Chinese player kicked the ball which was lodged against his crotch area. Following this, Brazil took their time out.

During the time out, Brazilian fans cheered.

25 minute halves and 10 minute break between halves.

the game is, according to annoucer, is a defensive. In previous games for both teams, they had played 2 up front and 2 in back. They changed this as both sides have good forwards.

There is a giant Brazilian flag. (Also a huge France flag and Union jack flag.) (France and Turkey being the next game.) Brazilian barrackers are sitting behind the goal.

They asked some one to describe the ball in the stands and he said it waas quite heavy.

Fans tended to be quiet in this game like htey should according to announcer. (Though the Brazilian journalists have held normal level convos next to me during the game.)  Fans again asked to be quiet.

During half time, the Brazilian goalkeepers practiced getting shot on on goal.

Brazilian fans randomly cheered during half time for their team. Another big Brazilian flag spotted at half court. There is also a Turkish flag.

Brazil made a change at half time. Players switched defending sides of field at half.

Both sides appear to be playing a more ddefending game still, though Brazil is sending one guy further up. at 26:26, two Brazilian players competing for the ball nearly scored an own goal. 9 for China made a spectacular no where near on goal shot. 27:34 and Brazilian 10 is sitting on side but finally stood up. He and 5 then did set piece. 10 dribbled down but no one pushing up with him.

The players are sometimes slipping on the field hockey pitch. (You can see the occasional splash of water during the game. Unlike 7-a-side, they did not watch the field during the break.

11 for chona all over 10 of BRA back as 10 dribbled slowly towards his own goal. Then ball got away from 10 as result of 11 but 9 for Brazil got it around 30 minute mark.

9 for China had great shot but not quite on goal.

33:36 and Brazil made change. The Brazilian fans were not happy a few seconds ago after what looked like attacking a player after a play.

33:36 and umpire cautioned goalie but no cards. Brazilian goalie is louder than Chinese one and moving all the time. The guide behind the Chinese net for Brazil is loud

Chinese goalieis talking but not as loud.

34:39 and 7 for Brazili had great shot but not quite on goal.

35:00 and 9 for China had shot almost on goal. at 35:11 set piece for China.

36:28 and 5 for China went down after running into goal post. shook it off and got back into game. China playing a bit more aggressively in terms of formation with two out front to challenge and moving the second guy to center line but not all the way forward.

7 for Brazili handled Chinese side at 37:25 and had a shot on goal that the Chinese keeper easily stopped.

Time out taken by Brazil. 37:52. China used that time out to make a substitution. Brazil also made a substituion.

about 500 people by midway through second half. Fans reminded to be absolutely silent.

Action along boards at 38 minute.

Brazil is still playng a more defensive game though 6 had good run dwn at 38:54 before falling over a chinese player.

They appear to be more tolerant of handballs after tropping player kind of went down and half crawled upside crabwalked over the ball to get upright.

40:13 and 9 for China had good shot but not quite on goal again,

Brazilian goalie and Chinese guide had complaint at eachother over water bottles for a second.

Still only goal was scored in 22 minute by Brazil.

41:27 and China has substitution. 8 out and 11 in.

China now pushing with two people going into offensive half of field. Brazil looking similar t times but not as sconsistently sending two down.

42:22 played.

Players sometimes kick balls out of bounds on their own. \ They came around and gave media small Cadbury caramel chocolates at 44:30. Two umpires on the pitch. Umpires sometimes act as guides to get players on and off the field.

44:58 and 7 out and 10 in for Brazil.

10 is pushing forward for Brazil.

11 for China took down 10 for Brazil at 46:05. This led to Brazil set piece taken by 6 and 10. Brazil still sending players forward.

China took a shot at 47:20. Got ooooh from crowd.

Brazil keeps passing to no one in open space.

9 is now pushing ahead fo Brazil.

5 and 11 pushing ahead for China with 48:26 played.

49:00 in and Brazil goalkeeper giving direction directions to players.

Brazil fans not happpy as they thought China bad.

Game ended and three large Brazilian flags were waved. Brazil won 1-0. Crowd happy and Brazilians started sing. Fans asked to show apprecaition. No Chinese flags. Brazil is group leaders.

Brazil team profile
Brazil - Men's Team - B1 Related Team News TEAM MEMBERS Shirt Number Name Position Date of Birth Club 1 RIBEIRO de VASCONCELOS Fabio Luiz GK 22 JUL 1974 APACE (BRA) 3 de CARVALHO Emerson DF 02 APR 1984 APADV (BRA) 4 da PAIXAO BARROS Gledson DF 10 SEP 1990 ICB (BRA) 5 LOPES dos REIS Cassio DF 15 MAY 1989 ICB (BRA) 6 ALVES FELIPE Marcos Jose MF 14 OCT 1981 APACE (BRA) 7 da CONCEICAO GONCALVES Jeferson MF 05 OCT 1989 ICB (BRA) 8 ALVES MENDES Raimundo Nonato FW 19 AUG 1987 ADVP (BRA) 9 da SILVA Severino Gabriel MF 13 SEP 1982 APACE (BRA) 10 STEINMETZ ALVES Ricardo MF 15 DEC 1988 AGAFUC (BRA) 12 DANTAS da SILVA Daniel GK 29 MAY 1983 APACE (BRA) TECHNICAL STAFF Coach: PEREIRA de SOUZA Ramon HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Year	Location Paralympic Games 1	2008	Beijing, CHN 1	2004	Athens, GRE

GENERAL INTEREST Additional Information: General Brazil have won both previous football 5-a-side tournaments at the Paralympic Games. They claimed gold when the sport made its debut in Athens in 2004, and defended their title with a 2-1 defeat of China in the final in Beijing.

They qualified for London 2012 after being crowned world champions in 2010 in Hereford, England.

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs France Riverbank Arena 0 - 0 Start List Results Reports SUN 02 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Turkey vs Brazil Riverbank Arena 0 - 4 Start List Results Reports TUE 04 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs China Riverbank Arena Start List Reports

China team profile
China - Men's Team - B1 Related Team News TEAM MEMBERS Shirt Number Name Position Date of Birth Club 1 XU Huachu GK 04 MAY 1991 Fujian (CHN) 2 GAO Kai DF 26 JAN 1987 Fujian (CHN) 3 CHEN Shanyong MF 29 JAN 1988 Jiangsu (CHN) 5 LI Xiaoqiang DF 17 APR 1982 Yunnan (CHN) 6 LIN Dongdong FW 12 MAY 1990 Fujian (CHN) 8 ZHANG Lijing DF 25 AUG 1994 Liaoning (CHN) 9 WANG Zhoubin MF 14 OCT 1989 Fujian (CHN) 10 ZHENG Wenfa FW 02 DEC 1991 Liaoning (CHN) 11 WANG Yafeng FW 25 MAR 1990 Fujian (CHN) 12 NIU Lei GK 19 AUG 1987 Hebei (CHN) TECHNICAL STAFF Coach: DONG Junjie HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Year	Location Paralympic Games 2	2008	Beijing, CHN

GENERAL INTEREST Additional Information: General China only formed a national team to compete as hosts in Beijing in 2008. They surprised some of the more fancied teams to finish with the silver meal, losing the final to Brazil.

They were crowned Asian champions in 2009 and claimed the bronze medal at the 2010 World Championships in Hereford, England.

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 11:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B China vs Turkey Riverbank Arena 4 - 0 Start List Results Reports SUN 02 11:15 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B France vs China Riverbank Arena 0 - 0 Start List Results Reports TUE 04 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs China Riverbank Arena Start List Reports

da SILVA Severino Gabriel
da SILVA Severino Gabriel Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 13 SEP 1982 Gender: Male Place of Birth: DUAS ESTRADAS, Brazil Residence: - Sport: Football 5-a-side Event(s): Men's Team - B1 Class: B1 Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Event	Year	Location Paralympic Games 1	Team - B1	2008	Beijing, CHN 1	Team - B1	2004	Athens, GRE GENERAL INTEREST Occupation: Athlete Position/Style: Forward (caixa.gov.br, 26 Jun 2007) Additional Information: Disability nature Visual Impairment

Disability origin Congenital - Genetic

Start of sporting career He began playing five-a-side football at age 15. (caixa.gov.br, 26 Jun 2007)

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs France Riverbank Arena 0 - 0 Start List Results Reports

WANG Zhoubin
WANG Zhoubin Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 14 OCT 1989 Gender: Male Place of Birth: FUJIAN, China Residence: - Sport: Football 5-a-side Event(s): Men's Team - B1 Class: B1 Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Event	Year	Location Paralympic Games 2	Team - B1	2008	Beijing, CHN GENERAL INTEREST Occupation: Athlete Club: Fuzhou Football Team, Fuzhou, CHN Coach: Dong Junjei [national] (CHN) (news.sdinfo.net, 19 Jul 2012) Languages: Mandarin Additional Information: Start of sporting career He began playing in 2005. (sports.qq, 14 Dec 2010)

Hero David Beckham. (sports.qq, 14 Dec 2010)

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 11:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B China vs Turkey Riverbank Arena 4 - 0 Start List Results Reports

WANG Yafeng
WANG Yafeng Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 25 MAR 1990 Gender: Male Place of Birth: FUJIAN, China Residence: - Sport: Football 5-a-side Event(s): Men's Team - B1 Class: B1 Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Event	Year	Location Paralympic Games 2	Team - B1	2008	Beijing, CHN GENERAL INTEREST Occupation: Athlete Club: Fujian Football Team, China Coach: Dong Junjei [national] (CHN) (news.sdinfo.net, 19 Jul 2012) International Debut: 2007 (2008.people.com.cn, 21 May 2010) Position/Style: Forward (news.sdinfo.net, 19 Jul 2012) Languages: Chinese Additional Information: Start of sporting career He started to play football at age eight while in primary school. (news.sina.com.cn, 08 Sep 2008)

Hero Lionel Messi. (news.sina.com.cn, 08 Sep 2008)

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 11:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B China vs Turkey Riverbank Arena 4 - 0 Start List Results Repo

da CONCEICAO GONCALVES Jeferson
da CONCEICAO GONCALVES Jeferson Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 05 OCT 1989 Gender: Male Place of Birth: CANDEIAS, Brazil Residence: - Sport: Football 5-a-side Event(s): Men's Team - B1 Class: B1 Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] Rank	Event	Year	Location Paralympic Games 1	Team - B1	2008	Beijing, CHN GENERAL INTEREST Nickname: Jefinho. (cpb.org.br, 28 Oct 2011) Club: Instituto dos Cegos da Bahia [ICB], Rio de Janeiro, BRA Coach: Antonio Padua Alves da Costa [national] SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs France Riverbank Arena 0 - 0 Start List Results Rep

LOPES dos REIS Cassio
LOPES dos REIS Cassio Related Participant News Profile Date of Birth: 15 MAY 1989 Gender: Male Place of Birth: ITUBERA, Brazil Residence: - Sport: Football 5-a-side Event(s): Men's Team - B1 Class: B1 Participant's Portrait HISTORICAL RESULTS Competition Highlights [Explanation of Competition Highlights (click to open/close)] GENERAL INTEREST Club: ICB, Brazil Additional Information: Disability nature Visual Impairment

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS AT LONDON 2012 Date Time Sport Event Location Result Start List Results Reports FRI 31 09:00 FB Men's Preliminaries Pool B Brazil vs France Riverbank Arena 0 - 0 Start List Results Report

5-a-side football BRA v CHN: XU Huachu, WANG Yafeng (CHN)
5-a-side football BRA v CHN: XU Huachu, WANG Yafeng (CHN) Tuesday, 04 September 2012 - 12:11

Comments from XU Huachu, WANG Yafeng (CHN) after China lost their final group B match in the 5-a-side tournament 1-0 to Brazil at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday.

XU Huachu (CHN)

On how he felt about the standard of team's play: "I joined the team at the end of 2007. We have improved, but the other teams have improved more and have played better. Sometimes our skill is not as good as others and we lose the game - that's the way it is."

"I am not disappointed with the games even if we do not get into the semi-final, but I will try to do better in the next game."

5-a-side football BRA v CHN: coach PEREIRA DE SOUZA, PAIXAO BARROS, LOPES DOS REIS (BRA)
5-a-side football BRA v CHN: coach PEREIRA DE SOUZA, PAIXAO BARROS, LOPES DOS REIS (BRA) Tuesday, 04 September 2012 - 11:58

LONDON, 4 September - Comments from Brazil coach Ramon PEREIRA de SOUZA, Gledson da PAIXAO BARROS and Cassio LOPES dos REIS (BRA) after Brazil beat China 1-0 in their group B match in the 5-a-side football tournament at the Riverbank Arena on Tuesday.

Ramon PEREIRA de SOUZA (BRA) - coach

On how happy he was to be in the semifinal: "I have no words. My happiness is shaped on all the faces of the players and coaches in the team. It was a difficult game. It is the passage to the next stage. Facing China is not like facing any other team. China has spectacular players."

On whether the team has improved since Beijing 2008: "Actually what I think is there is some balance. Other teams are the ones that are improving and reaching the level in which it is difficult for us in group A and group B. Today it is noticeable that blind football has been evolving considerably. For this to happen it is important that there is incentive and the sport gets recognition."

On Brazil's future rivals in the competition: "The next three teams that classify. This is because as I said before, the technical level of all the teams is very good. What stands out in our team is our determination. When it comes to ability, technique and performance it has been balanced with other teams."

On whether a defensive line up was the plan against China: "Each adversary is a different adversary. We faced France with two forwards, we faced Turkey with three forwards and China today with only one forward. To each adversary there is a study and we behave according to this."

On who he thinks will progress from group A: "The other group is a bit complicated but I think Argentina and Spain will progress."

Gledson da PAIXAO BARROS (BRA)

On the game and progression to the semifinals: "Every game is difficult. This was no different. We knew China was a strong candidate for the title since Beijing 2008. They have been fighting for it. We knew that if we had unity and trust within the team we would get a good result. God is fair but in football there is no justice and sometimes the best teams don't always win, but we are in the semifinals and we are still fighting for the title."

On how much the goal meant to the team: "It meant a lot. We were looking for it in this game. The important thing for us was that China did not score first. The important thing is to not get scored against because if the opponents do not score a goal and we do not score a goal then it is not a defeat."

On whether he thought the defence won them the game: "No, I don't think it did. If the defence is good but the attack does not pull its weight we will not win. It needs to be a team effort."

Cassio LOPES dos REIS (BRA)

On how Brazil have been progressing: "Our Paralympic side has been improving and been getting some recognition finally. Against France we made some mistakes, of course, due to the fact they played really well. We came with an objective and we will not rest until we have reached it. The gold is our final step in this journey."

On the victory and how the defence played a part in it: "The victory was due to the unity of our team. Our only objective is victory, and if our team has union and objective it is difficult for things to go wrong. The whole team is to be congratulated."

PNS mg/cmw/npb

On injuries: "Our captain (LI Xiaoqiang) injured his knee in a training session in China before London 2012 and so is wearing the protection on his knee which is influencing him a little. Also he had a collision with a Brazilian player in this game."

WANG Yafeng (CHN)

On how disappointed he feels about the result: "Yes (I am disappointed) because we had many good chances, but the Brazilian players are physically much stronger than Chinese athletes so they have the advantage with body contact. The result is acceptable - 0-1 is not so bad because this is blind football. Even though we had many chances you sometimes can't get the goal - you also need the luck."

"This is my second Paralympics and I don't think I had the best performance. During the game we were not playing skilfully enough because sometimes due to so much body contact we need the personal skills to defeat the oponent, but because of the body contact we were not able to do this."

On the upcoming France v Turkey game: "We would be happy to play for the whole Paralympics, but both France and Turkey have a chance. I still think Turkey have a chance to win, but sometime you have many chances but don't have the luck to get a goal."

"We played the way we did with one up front. Because the Brazillian players are so strong we need to rely on defensive tactics and personal skills so at the moment it is not a good idea to change our overall strategy. For the next game it is important to readjust our attitude."

PNS law/cmw/jjs