Nigeria 1-1 Brazil: Falconets scrape a draw with Brazil

The Falconets earlier today in Saitama drew their second game 1-1 with Brazil in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

 Francisca Ordega scored Nigeria’s goal late in the first half while the Brazilians equalised though Giovanna Oliveira in the second half to hold on for their second point in the group.

 The Brazilians had the better of the match and were also better in the second half but the Nigerians held on to take their points haul to four in the group ahead of their last match against the Italians on Saturday.

 The Falconets play was characterised by a lot of misplaced passing and the transition between the defence and midfield was almost non-existent and a lot of kudos has to be given to the Gloria Ofoegbu-led defence that they held on to take the draw.

 Nigeria went ahead in first half stoppage against the run of play when Ordega’s wonderful shot beat the Brazilian goalkeeper all ends up. And it seemed that the goal unshackled the players as they had two more attempts to score before the half ended.

 In the 45th minute, Desire Oparanozie chased down a defender on the left flank, won the ball and her audacious attempt from almost the corner flag just crept over the cross bar.

 A minute later, Esther Sunday took the ball in midfield and drove at the Brazilians who backed off. Sunday turned and shot but it went marginally wide off the right post.

 The Brazilians would have been glad when the referee blew off the first half. The second half started like the first with the Brazilians pushing for an equaliser as a loss would almost have consigned them to leaving the tournament in the first stage.

 They could not create clear cut chances though as the Falconets held firm at the back. But the pendulum finally swung their way when Nigeria’s goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte injured her ankle and had to be substituted by Chioma Nwankwo and immediately the Brazilians smelt blood as they camped in Nigeria’s half.

 The Falconets’ resistance finally broke in the 90th minute when a free kick from the right was flicked past Nwankwo by Oliviera to get a deserved equaliser. In five minutes of added time, the Brazilians pushed forward for a winner but could not go ahead. The Falconets also tried to push for a winner but Oparanozie’s free kick went wide.

 The Falconets now need at least a point from their last game against Italy to progress though coach Edwin Okon has work to do on getting his players to possess the ball well and not invite pressure by continuously misplacing passes.

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BREAKING NEWS: Brazil dismiss reports that Lucas Moura is having Manchester United medical

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) have denied reports that they have given permission for midfielder Lucas Moura to travel to Manchester to perform a medical.

 The Daily Mail have claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson remained in England while his squad traveled to Norway for a pre-season friendly so that he could tie up a deal with the 19-year-old instead, with Manchester United apparently agreeing a £30m deal for the Brazilian.

 However, the CBF have released the following statement: "Unlike the Daily Mail newspaper published in the edition this Sunday under the title "United to splash £ 50m on Brazil 's Moura and PVR" is not true that the player will perform medical examinations Lucas Sunday in Manchester.

 "The Board of the Brazilian has not received any request from the English club for this purpose. If you receive will not allow a player to leave the concentration to do it."

 The Sao Paulo midfielder is currently with the Brazil side who are competing in the men's football tournament at the Olympic Games, and have reached the semi-final stage and will face South Korea on Tuesday.

 Lucas has netted 14 goals for Sao Paulo from his 59 appearances for the club, and has also 15 senior international caps to this name.

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United 'need to offer more' for for Brazil star

Sao Paulo say they have rejected a Manchester United offer for midfielder Lucas Moura, telling United they "need to produce a little more".

 United have so far declined to confirm or deny an interest in the 19-year-old, but officials at the Brazilian club are adamant that they have received, and turned down, a bid.

 The Old Trafford club were reported to have sent a delegation to Brazil to hold talks over a transfer for Lucas, who is currently in the UK with the Brazilian Olympic squad and has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

 Sao Paolo director Marco Aurelio Cunha told us: "Manchester United made a very important offer of €35 million, but they would need to produce a little more.

 "For us, only Neymar [in Brazil] is worth more. After him is Lucas, and we would not want to sell for less than this sort of value. "We do not need the money.

 The Brazilian economy is good, television pays us and we cannot complain.

 For us, it is still better to have a good player than lots of money in the bank."

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Brazil name strong Olympic squad for London 2012

Brazil have included forwards Hulk, Neymar and Alexandre Pato in a strong squad for this summer's Olympic Games.

 Santos' Neymar has nine goals in 18 games for the senior team, while AC Milan's Pato and Porto's Hulk have also impressed for the full side.

 Hulk is one of three over-aged players along with defenders Marcelo (Real Madrid) and Thiago Silva (AC Milan).

 Coach Mano Menezes has also picked Manchester United defender Rafael and Tottenham midfielder Sandro.

 Hulk, 25, has scored three goals for the senior side since making his full debut in 2009 and the coach said he hoped the Porto player's experience would help his side.

 "He brings a lot of strength to the team," said Menezes. "His experience will be important in big matches, as well as his great ability to be decisive.

 Menezes has also selected several promising young stars such as Santos midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso, striker Leandro Damiao and midfielder Oscar (both Internacional) and Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas, all of whom have senior caps to their name.

 Brazil, who are aiming to win their first Olympic football title, have been drawn in Group C along with Egypt, Belarus and New Zealand.

 But before that they will play a warm-up friendly against Stuart Pearce's Team GB side at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on 20 July.

 Goalkeepers: Rafael Cabral (Santos), Neto (Fiorentina)

 Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Rafael (Manchester United), Danilo (Porto), Alex Sandro (Porto), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Juan (Inter Milan), Bruno Uvini (Sao Paulo)

 Midfielders: Romulo (Vasco da Gama), Ganso (Santos), Oscar (Internacional), Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur), Lucas (Sao Paulo)

 Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Hulk (Porto).

 Replacements: Marquinhos (Corinthians), Giuliano (Dniepr/UKR), Cassemiro (Sao Paulo), Gabriel (AC Milan/ITA)

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Barcelona sign six-year-old Brazilian

Barcelona have secured the services of six-year-old Brazilian talent Artur Miani. Miani was able to impress while on trial at La Masia in May after his sister had signed him up on the Catalan club's official website.

 He received a letter on Friday from Barca announcing that he had passed the tests and that he would be able to join the club's youth ranks in September. "This is a huge pride," Artur's father, Adilson Miani said.

 "He played against kids he had never seen before in his life. "He even dealt with the jet lag and the long trip. I am very happy.

 "My son has been approved by one of the biggest clubs in the world. "They have not yet sent any info, or said if they will help with the costs, but we are already thinking about how we will cope with this. "He is six years old, so he cannot go alone.

 I cannot leave the country right now, so his mother will probably go with him there."

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Neymar transfer would please Alves

Dani Alves has admitted that he would love to see Neymar join Barcelona, describing the Santos starlet as a phenomenon.

 Neymar is under contract with the Brazilian club until 2014, but the 20-year-old continues to be heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou before then.

 And Alves said he would love to see his compatriot join him in Catalunya sooner rather than later.

 "I think he is a phenomenon and he would be a great signing for any team in the world," the right-back said. "If he signed for Barca, I'd be very happy.

" Dani Alves also confessed that he is excited by mounting speculation that the Blaugrana are on the verge of signing Spain and Valencia left-back Jordi Alba.

 "We have faced him and yes, he is very good," the 29-year-old Alves said. "All players who offer something different are welcome and I think that Jordi is a player who brings with him speed, audacity and the Barca style.

 He could fit into our game because our full-backs are so attacking." On a personal level, Alves is hoping to recover from the dislocated shoulder he suffered just before the end of the season in time to represent Brazil at the London Olympics.

 "To participate is my dream and I am working to achieve it," he said. "I am among those to have been shortlisted (for a place in the squad) and I will fight for my dream.

 "First, because that would mean having a great recovery (from the injury) and secondly, as I want to defend the jersey of my country.

" Dani Alves, who joined Barca from Sevilla in 2008, sustained the injury in the lead-up to the Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao.

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Neymar: Messi is number one

Brazil star Neymar says Argentina ace Lionel Messi is the best player in the world following Saturday's friendly between the two teams.

 The Barcelona forward inspired his team to a 4-3 victory against their arch-rivals, scoring two goals in the first half before deciding an end-to-end contest with a brilliant late strike to complete his hat-trick.

 Neymar, who picked up two assists in the match, has often earned comparisons with Messi, but he admitted the Argentine is at a higher level.

 "It is very simple: Messi is the best in the world, and if you give him a little bit of space, he can do whatever he wants," Neymar told reporters.

 "But this match was not a walk in the park, like many had predicted. "We could have won the match, we had chances to score.

 We played well and we showed that we are on the right track."

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