Brazil defend soccer title with 2-1 victory over China at Beijing Paralympics

In the earlier bronze medal match, Argentina stroke a decisive goal in the penalty shootout and outscored Spain 2-1 to win the sitzkrieg battle.

The Spanish Antonio Jesus hit the target in the very first minute and continued creating chances early on. Argentina started their reaction in 42 minutes when Spain's fouls led to a free-kick in a very dangerous position and striker Silvio Velo made no mistake to achieve the equalizer.

In the penalty round, after both sides missing their first two kicks, Diego Cerega became the hero for Argentina as he scored the precious goal to gift his team the hard-won bronze.

Argentina's defender Lucas Rodriguez, who shed tears after the match, said the medal meant a lot to him.

"We love this game so strongly and intensely that this made me cry of emotion. In my heart, the medal is for a long time. We fought so hard and this is very big. I want to thank all the people that were close to us during these years."

Argentina had won silver in the first edition of this event at the the Paralympics 2004, where Spain won Bronze.

There are six teams together competing in Beijing. Following the medal winners, Spain, Britain and South Korea finished fourth to sixth places. Argentina's Silvio Velo led the scoring sheet with six goals.

Differing from the Olympic rules, a football 5-a-side match is played in two halves of 25 minutes each, in which there is no off-side rule. Every football match is played between teams with four blind athletes and one sighted or visually impaired goalkeeper on the field.

Editor:Zhang Yue