Brazil got off to a good start in the Football 7-a-Side tournament at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games after it defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in a pool A match played on Pitch 1 of the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium on Monday.

It wasn't an easy win for the South American team who had to fight very hard against a technically-sound Dutch team.

Brazil scored the only goal of the match five minutes before the end of the first half when Marcos Silva sent a beautiful left-footed strike to the far post after receiving the ball from Wanderson Oliveira.

Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos 'Marcao' Ferreira was instrumental in keeping the Netherlands scoreless. He kept the dangerous Johaness Swinkels and Stephan Lokhoff at bay in a superb performance that included some key saves and clearances.

Brazil, silver medalist at Athens 2004, now joins Russia at the top of pool A with three points each, while the Netherlands and China are yet to earn a point.

Brazil and the Netherlands will play their next games on Tuesday, September 10. Brazil will face China and the Netherlands will play against Russia.

(BOCOG September 8, 2008)