LINUS LINDAHL / AIPS* in RAS AL KHAIMAH: Boschilia extended his goalscoring streak to send Brazil to Abu Dhabi for the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 after a 3-0 win over Honduras in Group A. Consolation for Honduras was the knowledge that they too are going through.

After two goals against hosts United Arab Emirates, Boschilia was again on fire as Brazil clinched group victory.

He played only the first half but that was enough to score two goals. The first one he created on his own when he was dragged down during a run towards the Honduras penalty area. The Sao Paulo midfielder was up quickly and curled the free kick around the end of the wall and beyond the goalkeeper’s right hand.

Boschilia’s scored his second goal came after one of his fellow stars, Nathan, went past defenders on the left and crossed in front of the goalkeeper so Boschilia could touch home his fourth goal in the tournament, the same number as Nathan.

By half-time coach Alexandre Gallo thought Boschilia had done enough sent on substitute Kenedy instead.

That the game only about how many Brazilian goals the spectators would see was illustrated by the first-half possesion dominane of 80-20.

Playground

Nathan showed that this year’s World Cup is his playground. The Atletico Paranaense player was missing from the scoring sheet this time but made impressive runs with the ball and helped his teammates join him among the tournament’s top scorers. It was his long crossfield pass which Caio duly converted into goal No3.

Honduras never threatened the Brazilian defenders but were probably pleased at not conceding six goals as had Brazil’s previous victims.

Brazil now return to Abu Dhabi where they played their two first matches to play the third placed team from group C, D or E while second placed Honduras will go up against Morocco, Uzbekistan or Croatia from group C in Sharjah on Monday.

If the Brazilian’s want to go even beyond chasing their fourth title they can pursue the toutnament scoring record. Germany registered 24 while Brazil are now up to 15.

Nathan, an outstanding creator and scorer of goals during the Brazilians’ 15-goal first round romp, said: ”We expect to continue playing like this and also expect not to be stopped on our way to the title.

‘Empty space’

”I am always looking to move around on the pitch and looking for empty spaces. This game it was hard because Honduras did not try to play, just to stop us. It was a little difficult to find the empty spaces but I am happy with two assistances.

“I do not think the group was easy, we made it easy.”

Two-goal forward Boschilia, to his own amazement, finds himself sharing the scorers’ lead in the tournament with four goals along with Nathan, Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Tomas Vestenicky from Slovakia.

He said: “I am a little bit surprised because I am a midfielder. But now I have scored four goals and expect to score more.

“I feel happy when I can help my teammates with goals and assists. I also try to help the defensive players. I am happy everything is going well.

“I expect to face difficult teams in the final rounds. We have to play as well as we have played these three first matches.”

Coach Alexandre Gallo was not ready to go as far as some of his players. He said: “It was a very good first round and we are very confident but we are not thinking of winning the tournament yet. First we have to make our way through it, now a new competition starts”.

Honduras coach José Ballederes was proud of his team’s having made history: this was the first time a Honduras team had ever progressed to a second round in a FIFA World Cup.

He said: “We promised this each other before coming to the Emirates and today we did it. We know that we will have to do better in next game because now it is all or nothing.”

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