If there was a better way to start their home International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball Americas Championships on Friday (18 February), someone could have told Brazil.

With two victories each, the women’s and men’s teams won all their matches by mercy scores in Sao Paulo.

Defending men’s champions Brazil opened the tournament with a 10-0 lead against Colombia in group A. Winger Emerson Da Silva (six goals) and André Dantas (four) scored for the team led by coach Alessandro Tosim, who took advantage of the first day of the tournament to test different formations. In the second match on Friday, the men overcame Chile. Leomon Moreno was the top scorer with seven goals.

“It was important to debut with the two victories to give us peace of mind thinking about the other games. We left with the conviction that we did what we set out to do. Now it’s time to rest for tomorrow,” said Da Silva.

In the women’s team, the scenario was not very different. In their debut, a 10-0 mercy over Venezuela was led by Danielle Longuini, scorer of four goals. Jessica Vitorino scored three, Ana Gabriely scored twice and Kátia Aparecida grabbed one to close the scoring. The second match, against Colombia, looked like it would be 10-1 until the end, when Kátia hit the bar with seconds to go and secured the 11-1 – she had already scored seven other goals. The rout was completed by Moniza Aparecida de Lima, Vitorino and Longuini, each with one goal.

“We’re going one step at a time to get to our dream, which is the highest place on the podium,” said Longuini.

Elsewhere in the competition 2019 silver medallists the USA also got their Championships off to the perfect start in both the men’s and women’s.

In the men’s the USA won both their games against Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. Their Paralympic silver medallist teammates overcame Argentina and Chile.

Third place finishers from the last edition, Canada, won 10-0 against Puerto Rico in the men’s but fell 14-9 Mexico in their second game of the day. Their counterparts, who are also defending their bronze medal from 2019, got past Chile 11-1 to score their first three points.

Full scores

Men

Brazil 10-0 Colombia
USA 12-2 Puerto Rico
Canada 10 – 0 Costa Rica
Nicaragua 8 – 9 Venezuela
Argentina 14 – 4 Chile
Mexico 10 – 0 Guatemala
Peru 2 – 7 Venezuela
Costa Rica 0 – 10 USA
Colombia 3 – 13 Argentina
Puerto Rico 7 – 6 Guatemala
Chile 0 – 10 Brazil
Canada 9 – 14 Mexico

Women

Brazil 10 – 0 Venezuela
USA 11 – 1 Argentina
Mexico 7 – 4 Colombia
Canada 11 – 1 Chile
Guatemala 2 – 7 Peru
Costa Rica 1 – 11 Nicaragua
Colombia 1 – 11 Brazil
Chile 0 – 10 USA
Argentina 6 – 2 Nicaragua
Venezuela 4 – 5 Guatemala
Colombia 10 – 2 Nicaragua
Mexico 4 – 3 Peru

The 2022 IBSA Goalball Americas Championships run until 22 February. Games are being broadcast live at www.goalball.sport.

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By CBDV and IBSA