| | |  Americas & Beyond | July 2008 
Delight Across the Americas
 FIFA.com
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Click HERE for Mexico's matchday results
There was joy across the Americas today as Argentina, Mexico and Brazil all eked out victories on their Marseille 2008 debuts. With fans on Prado beach, and those watching on FIFA.com TV, also witnessing United Arab Emirates produce an emphatic win, FIFA.com reflects on an exciting Matchday 2.
The result
Brazil 3-2 Spain
Goals - Buru (2), Bruno for Brazil; Amarelle (2) for Spain
Buru began what was a thrilling, albeit goal-shy, match with a superb goal, and he ended it with another to earn Brazil a hard-fought 3-2 victory. In between his strikes, an Amarelle double had put Spain ahead, before Bruno equalised for Alexandre Soares' charges. The third period was awash with moments of flair, with the inimitable Brazilians thrilling their large contingent of supporters, who, more importantly, left Prado beach with three points to celebrate.
The other games
The first three game's of the day all hung in the balance going into the last third. First, Argentina twice came from behind to beat Russia, although it took the Albiceleste until the last second to make it 5-3 and extinguish their rivals' challenge. The ensuing duel between Mexico and Japan was an even tighter affair. El Tri trailed 1-0 going into the final period, but Ricardo Villalobos underlined his worth with a double that led Ramon Raya's side to a 4-3 win. Next up were United Arab Emirates and Cameroon, and with just one goal separating them going into the concluding 12 minutes, the game could have gone either way. The UAE ran riot, though, posting five goals without reply to run out 10-4 winners.
The stat
11 - The number of goals, out of a total of 15 in the Russia-Argentina and Mexico-Japan matches, that were scored in the final period.
The player
Federico Hilaire (ARG)
So often in the shadow of his elder brother Ezequiel, Federico Hilaire demonstrated what a star he is in his own right. His three goals sent him joint-top of the scoring chart and, crucially, earned Argentina three points.
What they said
"We have to admit that we've been really lucky today. Cameroon were tired in the third period. If they hadn't been, it would have been much more difficult for us even though we're better than them technically," Bakhit Alabadla, United Arab Emirates player.
All the results
Russia 3-5 Argentina
Mexico 4-3 Japan
United Arab Emirates 10-4 Cameroon
Brazil 3-2 Spain
 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008
Follow the competition from Durban, to Puerto Vallarta, Buenos Aires, Dubai, and Benidorm on the road leading up to the final championship matches in Marseille, France, the host country for the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. |
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