Paralympic team still fighting hard with big win

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The Australian Paralympic team returned to winning form at the Cerebral Palsy World Championship being played in Rio de Janiero in Brazil, thrashing Asian counterparts Japan 8-1.

While out of the running to win the tournament after finishing third in their group, the team still has a chance of possibly making the Beijing Paralympic Games, if they can finish in 9th place.

While finishing in the top eight would have guaranteed them a place in Beijing, circumstances in the qualifying procedure may see teams who finish in 9th and 10th still in with a chance of progressing to the Paralympics, so the consolation play-offs are still vitally important for the team.

Played in driving rain and on a very wet pitch in Rio, the Australian team was level with Japan 1-1 at the break, but broke away in the second half with David Cantoni and David Barber getting all the goals.

Both teams took time to settle into the match and wasn-t until the 21st minute that Australia was able to break the deadlock, when captain Barber scored with an excellent 20 metre shot.

However two minutes before the half time break, Japan leveled it up from a free kick.

The lead was restored straight after the break, when half time substitute Cantoni set up Barber for his second. From then on it became the Cantoni show, as he added the next five goals.

The first came in the 35th minute with a shot from 15 metres out; four minutes later he slotted home a cross from Barber; he followed that up with two excellent strikes from 15 metres out and his final goal in the 55th minute was again scored off a fast counter-attack.

Barber rounded out the scoring three minutes from full time, when he was set up by Cantoni.

Coach Paul Brown was delighted with the way his team came back after two frustrating losses in the group matches.

“My players were extremely frustrated after the game against England, a game we should have won,” said Brown. “Unfortunately Japan today copped the brunt of that frustration.”

“The conbinations between David Barber, David Cantoni and Chris Pyne continue to develop, plus Beau Menzies, Jamie Laybutt and Brett Cross were inspirational in defense providing good runs forward to create the extra man.”

Australia will now face the USA in the second play-off group match on Thursday morning, with the winner to advance to the 9th/10th play-off match on November 16 (Brazil time).

Match Details

Australia 8 (David Barber 21-/31-/57-, David Cantoni 35-/39-/42-/50-/55-) Japan 1 (28-)

Australia line-up: Sam Larkings (gk); David Barber, Jamie Laybutt (Marik Gleizer 45'), Brett Cross, Brett Fairhall (Chris Pyne 40'), Christopher Restall (David Cantoni 30'), Beau Menzies

Referee: Luis Gustavo - Brazil