FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – BRAZIL SWEEP ASIDE BILIKIKI BOYS

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil were too experienced, too fit and, ultimately, too good for the Solomon Islands Bilikiki Boys as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2007 got underway at the
Copacabana Beach Soccer Arena in Rio this weekend.

Solomon Islands Kiwi-coach Terry Van Dillen bemoaned his team’s defensive frailties against the scintillating host nation but admitted the occasion was something out of the ordinary
for a team that has not played an international since the OFC Beach Soccer Championship final against Vanuatu nearly six months ago.

“The pressure of the occasion got to my players at the start, what with all the support for Brazil and everything. It’s a very different atmosphere to what we’re used to and it
affected us. We didn’t play well defensively. Our marking was slack,” Van Dillen said.

The home fans were beaming after Brazil made a typically flamboyant start to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Rio de Janeiro 2007, sweeping aside the Solomon Islands with
irrepressible style.

Not surprisingly, Solomon Islands keeper Fred Hale was covered in sand before the match was even a minute old, Junior Negao setting the tone with a delicious bicycle kick that
skimmed the crossbar. It was Buru who opened the scoring with a precise strike, and a full five minutes had elapsed before Mao got a feel of the ball, the Brazil keeper safely fielding Richard
Anisua’s free kick. For all their dominance, though, the Brazilians went in at the first break only two goals to the good.

Ironically, when the floodgates duly opened in the second period, the islanders produced their best football, forcing Mao into several tumbling saves and finally pulling a goal back
through a Benjamin Mela free kick. The pattern remained unchanged in the final period, with the hosts adding another five goals to their tally and Solomons striker James Naka getting a cheer from
the stands with a fine scissor kick.

Naka (above left) got his marching orders after 36 minutes for a second yellow card offence but the match had been lost long before then with the host nation in no mood to disappoint
the 9500 fans inside Copacabana Beach Soccer Arena.

James Naka will be suspended for Solomon Islands next match.

The KOSSA FC striker was realistic about the Bilikiki Boys performance.

“We expected a tough match and that’s exactly what we got. You only have to look at the result. Technically they are superb, and we knew that, but they were physically stronger than
us too,” Naka said.

Brazil star Benjamin was satisfied with the host nation’s start to the campaign and confident his team were on track for a place in the last eight.

“The team kept close-knitted on the pitch and showed good soccer. Now it is on to defining our position against Mexico and securing our spot as early as on Sunday. Taking it
seriously and counting on our supporters will make our job easier,” Benjamin said.

Brazil’s coach Alexander Soares was happy with the result but less pleased with the performance.

“Based on the result, I would say we started off fine, but I did not like our performance. In the first match of the day, the Mexicans did surprise me; I expected more from the
Russians. But I liked seeing both teams worn-out in the third period. That may come as an advantage for us.”

Date     Kick-off*/**  Match  

06.11.07  14:00         Solomon Islands  vs. Mexico 

*Rio de Janeiro local time

**Time Conversion for Oceania

Vanuatu UTC +11hrs

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – RIO DE JANEIRO 2007 – LIVE COVERAGE
http://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/livecoverage/index.html

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP – RIO DE JANEIRO 2007
http://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/news/index.html

OFC BEACH SOCCER/SOLOMON ISLANDS BILIKIKI BOYS
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/comphome/6039/Beach-Soccer-2007

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro 2007 Standings
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Group A