TICKETS
Amandinha has scored innumerable goals during an otherworldly career in which she has been named the Best Women’s Player a staggering eight times. There was, however, something missing: a goal in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™.
“I can’t deny it: I was desperate to score in the World Cup,” the 31-year-old told FIFA. “I was frustrated in the first half because my goal should have happened following a play I love. It hit the post and went out.”
What a goal it would have been. Amandinha collected the ball on the right, played it forward to Ana Luiza, and pretended she was uninterested in advancing. Once her Italian bodyguard lost attention, the Torreblanca Melilla winger dashed forward, took a glorious Ana Luiza back-heel in her stride, cut inside Erika Ferrara and beat goalkeeper Ana Sestari but not the upright.
“It would have been a beautiful goal,” continued Amandinha. “I was like, ‘Wow, how has that not gone in? Is it ever going to happen?’
“When I got to the dressing room, I gathered myself together, took a breath and gathered my concentration, I said to myself, ‘You have another 20 minutes to make it happen.’”
She needed merely 72 seconds. Amandinha picked up the ball inside her own half, dropped her shoulder, left Bruna Borges in her wake and fizzed a fantastic finish just inside the post. Her trademark celebration ensued.
“It was indescribable,” Amandinha explained. “My first goal in the World Cup, it was a dream come true. Thank God everything worked out.
“I have to thank God because He knows how hard I work, how dedicated I am, how much I love this sport, how much I want it to grow. I want it to grow so that more and more girls and believe that one day they can be here, playing in a World Cup.”
Forty-two seconds after play restarted, Amandinha completed her brace following a crisp give-and-go with Ana Luiza. Brazil finished 6-1 victors and Group D winners with a game to spare. If their No12 – she wears the jersey in homage to her idol, Falcao – was disappointed following a 4-1 win over IR Iran in their opener, she was thrilled with their defeat of Italy.
“I think there was nerves in the first game. We made mistakes that we don’t normally make, that we weren’t making in training. It was our first game in the World Cup, so I guess that was normal.
“Today I believe we showed the true Brazil. I think the nerves are behind us. We were solid in defence and we created a lot against a very strong side. We’re qualified for the next round and we’re very happy.”
