Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- With an exciting 10-0 victory, Brazil defeated Venezuela and secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the male goalball at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. This way, the Brazilian team takes one step closer to revalidating their three-time championship in this tournament. 

Jonatas Silva da Cunha's team quickly imposed themselves, with a poker from Romario and hat-tricks from Leomón and Paulo Rubens, an expressive victory that harbors expectations and sets up a high-flying clash in the semifinals. 

Leomón himself illustrated the significance of Brazil's first victory in the final phase: "I feel a lot of happiness for adding another victory in this tournament, and we go into the semifinals with a lot of confidence. I feel very good playing here in Chile, in every game I try to encourage the fans, and so we go step by step trying to reach the grand final and achieve the gold, which is our goal." 

The Brazilian team will face the winner of the clash between Argentina and Mexico in the round of four, a match played on Wednesday morning at the Centro de Deportes Paralímpicos at the Parque Estadio Nacional in the Chilean capital. 

Goalball is a team competition involving three visually impaired athletes who compete with the aim of introducing a sound ball into the opponent's goal through hand throws and repelling the opponent's attacks. 




Written by Sebastián Urzúa y Nicolás Olea; translated by Pía Barriga Ferry / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport 
Ph: Christian Zapata / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport