Team PFL Takes The Win Against Australia In Orlando
Soccer News: Every touch of the ball raised cheers or gasps of disbelief as Brazilian futsal icon Falcão displayed his flair from a bag of tricks that seemed bottomless. Falcão danced with the ball at his feet, heels, chest and head to the delight of the packed house for the PFL SuperCopa at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Center at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Ultimately, Falcão and Team PFL defeated Australia’s Fremantle Muita Calma Futsal Club in the 2015 PFL SuperCopa on penalty kick tiebreakers.
“This event is a milestone moment for futsal and I am thankful to have been a part of it,” Falcão said. “My only regret is that I wasn’t able to play more but I hope the fans leave satisfied.”
While fans came to see Falcão they witnessed the thrill of Team PFL goalkeeper Boris Pardo’s two saves in the tiebreaking shootout to secure the 2-1 margin in the shootout after a 3-3 draw in regulation.
Team PFL’s Bernardo Palaus and Kraig Chiles converted their goals from the penalty spot in the best-of-three tiebreaking shootout.
It looked as if Team PFL would take the match in regulation when Hewerton Moreira scored his second goal with just over a minute remaining. However, Muita Calma equalized for the second time with 56.6 seconds left off a Lachlan Wright goal.
Team PFL took its first lead of the game, 2-1, with 7:08 remaining as Drew Ducker drove home through a crowded area a sharp pass from Bernardo Palaus.
However, with 3:32 remaining Muita Calma’s Chris Zeballos leveled the score at 2-2.
The disciplined Australian side kept a compact defense that Team PFL was unable to crack despite having the better of play in the opening half. Team PFL had two shots off the goal frame and a 10-meter penalty saved after Muita Calma conceded its 6th foul of the first half.
Muita Calma eventually opened the scoring with 2:22 remaining in the opening half. Zeballos received the ball atop the penalty area and cut back-and-forth several times before banging home the opening goal.
Hewerton leveled the match early in the second half. Hewerton struck Team PFL’s opening goal with 15:38 left in the match off a dead ball from about 12 meters out. PFL supporters remember Hewerton due to his dominant play for PFL Team USA during the PFL International Challenge last March in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The stands were packed with young futsal players from around the world as the SuperCopa was held as part of the opening ceremonies for the USA Futsal 2015 Boys World Futsal Championships taking place this week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The famed Australian “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant rose from Muita Calma’s youth club who were boisterous but vastly out-numbered by the pro-Team PFL crowd.
Falcão hopped on a plane out of Orlando following the SuperCopa to return to South America for the start of the Brazilian futsal season. However, Falcão said prior to the match that he hopes to return to the United States when the PFL launches full league play in the future.
“This is a huge dream of mine and everybody knows that,” he said. “I want to make sure I come here in the best shape of my life. I don’t want to be here just with my name, I want to put the best effort forward. The level that I’ve been playing my whole career I want to keep playing at that level if I do end up playing in the U.S. or Canada.”
Photos Courtesy of PFL Facebook
