Brazil beats Mexico and qualifies for the semifinals

The Confederations Cup

Brazil beats Mexico and qualifies for the semifinals

More than 71,000 fans were at the Castelão stadium, in Fortaleza, on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 19, to watch Brazil beat Mexico 2-0.  Before the game, thousands of demonstrators protested against the cost of the World Cup in Brazil

Neymar was again Brazil's best player. He scored the first goal of the match, after nine minutes, hitting a beautiful left-footed shot. In the last minute of the game, when Mexico had been putting Brazil under pressure, Neymar made stunning run, dribbling past two defenders and making the perfect pass for striker Jô to score Brazil's second goal. The defender David Luiz was another outstanding player for Brazil. The win secured qualification for Scolari's team for the semifinals. On Saturday, Brazil will face Italy, and a draw will be enough to secure first place in Group A. Hours before the game against Mexico thousands of people took to the streets of Fortaleza to protest against the cost of the World Cup in Brazil and against corruption. A group of protesters tried to get to the Castelão stadium, but was prevented by the police. 

---

Victory on the pitch and protests off it....

The wave of protests that has spread across Brazil began on June 6, in São Paulo. The leaders of thePasse Livre movement used social networks to get people to take to the streets to protest against the cost of public transport in SP and other state capitals. Protesters are also taking advantage of this movement to protest against the cost of the World Cup in Brazil and against corruption, besides asking for improvements in education, health and transport. Soon after the match in which Brazil beat Mexico, the governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, and the mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, announced a reduction in the price of public transport fares in SP. The same happened in Rio and several other cities in the country.

---

 

Vocabulary

1 demonstrators - manifestantes 

2 to hit – aqui = disparar

3 left-footed shot – chute de pé esquerdo

4 stunning run – aqui = jogada maravilhosa

5 draw – aqui = empate

6 to prevent - impedir

7 wave – onda

8 to spread – espalhar
9 fare – tarifa