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Brazil wins Toronto parapan football gold, Mexico heads for Rio 2016

Date: August 17, 2015

Category: Football

Brazil defeated South American arch rivals Argentina 2-1 to take the gold medal in the blind football tournament at the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games, thanks to goals from stars Jeferson de Conceicao (Jefinho) and Ricardo Steinmetz Alves (Ricardinho).

Jefinho opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Ricardinho struck in the 44th minute to give the IBSA world and Paralympic champions an unassailable lead. Maximiliano Espinillo pulled a goal back for Argentina with four minutes left on the clock, but it was too little too late for the Murciélagos and Brazil retained the title.

Caption: Argentina on the podium with their silver medals.

The bronze medal match went all the way to a penalty shoot out as Colombia and Mexico drew 1-1. Jorge Lanzagorta scored early for Mexico (7th minute) and Colombia equalised through Fredy Lopez Morales five minutes into the second half, but there was to be no more scoring so the match went to penalties. 

It took 18 penalties to split the teams before Omar Otero struck for Mexico, giving the Central Americans their first ever Parapan American Games football medal.

Third place also secures Mexico a slot at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where they will come up against Brazil and Argentina again. The other five teams in Rio have yet to be decided.

Uruguay finished fifth and Chile came sixth in the tournament.

  

  

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