Vasco da Gama spoils Mundialito de Clubes newcomers Botafogo in thrilling 3rd Place match
Vasco wins seesaw battle for 3rd Place
In their second straight third place match at the Mundialito de Clubes C.R. Vasco da Gama was able to win third place in for thee second straight time as they won 3-1 against Botafogo F.R. No goals were scored in the opening period but the second frame saw the game open up and The Comeback team did just that, comeback. Vasco went down late in the second but rebounded nicely to take the lead in the middle frame as they went on to win.
The 15th match and third place playoff of the tournament began terribly exciting and had an intense first few minutes including an amazing shot that bounced off the bottom of the crossbar. The Lone Stars dominated the tempo very early in the period. Vasco ended up finding their groove and created many great opportunities, though going into the middle of the period, no goals had been scored, mainly due to great saves and goalkeeping. The final minutes of the opening frame were back and forth but neither side was able to net a goal because of great defense, takeaways, tackles, and saves. The period ended with a clean sheet.
There were some incredible shots taken in the opening minutes of the second frame but the strikes did not find their way in. Close-range shots were deflected and stopped beautifully to keep the game scoreless early on. Just when one team began to grab some traction, the other side would dig their heels in defensively and protect their squad from giving up a goal. Just over five minutes from the end of the frame The Great Fire scored on a hard-struck ball to score the first goal of the match. The Giants of the Hill created many more chances in the middle frame but heading into the final minutes they had yet to score, though there was a feeling the goals would come soon. They did. Vasco scored two quick goals to end the period and the frame ended with a score of 2-1, Vasco.
Both sides began the final period spending much time in front of the other teams net, in scrums trying to put the ball in the net but were unable to do so until there were eight minutes left and Botinho of The Victory Express nailed a shot past The Great Fire and scored the first goal of the period. The score put Vasco up by two goals. Free kicks and set pieces occurred frequently in the final minutes but no goals were added and the game ended with a score of Vasco da Gama 3-1 Botafogo.
The 3-1 win for C.R. Vasco da Gama gives them their second straight 3rd place finish in the Mundialito de Clubes. This was the third edition of the tournament and Vasco won it in 2011 as well. This victory is very satisfying for the Brazilian side because they had trouble finding goals throughout this tournament. The loss is disappointing for The Glorious Ones but it was their first appearance in the tournament, so finishing 4th was a great way to end it.
Goals: 0-1: Bernardo, min. 4 (2); 1-1: Gil, min. 2 (2); 2-1: Jorginho, min. 1 (2); 3-1: Botinho, min. 8 (3).
Results:
08:00 – C.R Vasco da Gama 3-1 Botafogo F.R. (3rd Place Match)
Corinthians come from behind to win on penalties
The third edition of the Mundialito de Clubes was going to see a first time winner regardless of the outcome. Coincidently, both finalists had played each other on the opening day of the tournament, a game won by Corinthians. The end result was the same, as The Paulistas won again, this time by a score of 3(1)-3(0). Arguably the best action of the tournament came exactly when it should have came, in the final match. Flamengo lost though saying they lost does not do them justice, it was a closeñy contested match throughout.
A speed that can only be described as frantic controlled the early minutes of the final. Exciting plays were plentiful, enough to fill up an highlight reel in only two minutes, in fact. Eudin, of The Peoples Club, kicked two of the strongest shots you will see in Beach Soccer only to have them both strike the post. Despite all the action, the biggest surprise was that no goals had been scored when the period reached the middle point. The intensity of the crowd and match itself reached a boiling point at the end of the period when both sides scored one right after the other, the second one by The Big Mengo on the kick-off after giving up the first goal of the game to Eudin. The period ended with a score of 1-1.
The inspired play carried over from the first period to the middle frame as shots continued to very nearly miss their mark. Both teams were robbed of goals but fans everywhere were given exactly what they can expect from a Beach Soccer final, an intensely passionate match. Clever efforts abounded but no goals were scored in the opening half of the period. Midway through the second period Flamengo had taken more shots, most of them quality ones but on a rebound, Andre of Corinthians, put one home to put his side up by one. A terrifically played second period ended with more spectacular saves and shots though the period came to a halt after two goals by The Almighty. Corinthians when into the final break up 3-1.
Not surprisingly, The Peoples Club began the final frame by playing more conservative and staying back on their half of the pitch, to try and prevent easy goals. Mao, the keeper for Corinthians did not like that at all and immediatly signaled for his team to start attacking and pushing the ball up. Eudin seemed determined to best Corinthians by himself and after a thrilling display of offense and defense between him and Mao, Eudin added his second goal of the match to bring his team within one goal. If Mao was devastated by allowing that goal, he did not show it, as he blocked his third penalty kick of the tournament to keep his team up. Late in the period Flamengo scored the equalizer to create even more drama, setting the stage for some late game heroics, but none would come in regular time. The period ended 3-3 and headed to overtime. Extra time flew by and there were multiple open net chances for both teams to score but neither side scored and the match went into penalties. Only two penalty shots were taken, the first by Flamengo, which was saved and the second, which sealed the victory and title was made by Bruno Xavier.
The thrilling 3(1)-3(0) win in penalties for Corinthians brings an end to a match that no one wanted to end. The side from Sao Paulo won their first ever Mundialito de Clubes and will remember this match for years to come. It was an epic battle of wills between Mao and Eudin, which in the end was won by the Corinthians keeper, Mao, who capped off his amazing tournament with a save on the first and only penatly kick by Flamengo. Finishing second in the tournament is nothing to scoff at but after playing with everything they had, it is a heart breaking loss for the side from Rio de Janeiro.
Goals: 0-1: Eudin, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Fernando DDI, min. 3 (1); 2-1: Andre, min. 5 (2); 3-1: Bruno Xavier, min. 1 (2); 3-2: Eudin, min. 7 (3); 3-3: Benjamin, min. 4 (3).
Penalties: Benajmin: Saved; Bruno Xavier: Made
Results:
08:00 – C.R Vasco da Gama 3-1 Botafogo F.R. (3rd Place Match)
10:00 – S.C. Corinthians P. 3(1)-3(0) C.R. Flamengo (Final)
Final Standings:
1. S.C. Corinthians P.
2. C.R. Flamengo
3. C.R. Vasco da Gama
4. Botafogo F.R.
5. Al-Ahli F.C.
6. F.C. Barcelona
7. C.A. Peñarol
8. A.C. Milan
Individual Awards:
Best Goalkeeper: Mao, S.C. Corinthians P. (Stopped 4 penalty shots)
Top Goal Scorer: Eudin, C.R. Flamengo (Scored 7 goals)
MVP: Mao, S.C. Corinthians P. (Helped win final in penalties)
