Slick Brazil

The ground may not have danced completely to a Brazilian samba rhythm, but there were enough cha-cha-chas to keep the crowd of 831 and those watching on satellite television enthralled.

The pick of the action was a hot shoe-shuffle by left-back Ricardo on the edge of the box, which saw off three defenders and gave himself a tiny gap in which to let fly a left-foot snap shot from 20 yards.

Had that have gone in it would probably have been Bootham Crescent's goal of the season, instead it smacked into the crossbar and rebounded straight to striker Bruno Moraes, who tapped the ball home on 56 minutes to score his and Brazil's second goal in a 4-0 win.

Bruno's first goal had come on the quarter-hour mark, when he headed home Tavares's whipped in-swinging corner.

Thailand could have gone under after that, especially as they had only just enjoyed lucky escapes when Wendel and Bruno Ferraz missed sitters.

However, they battled gamely and ran their hearts out. Furthermore, they were obviously enjoying playing - something the watching York boss Terry Dolan and his backroom staff will no doubt be wanting to instill in his City players.

What he won't want to see from his City side - he saw enough last season - was the same cutting edge, or lack of, as displayed by the Thais. Gutsy and skilful they may be, but goal-fuelled, at this level, they are not.

They created only two real chances, both coming after the break. Tall striker Visist Chanvichanon rounded off a good move by firing over, and Sarawut Janthapan burst superbly through from midfield but gave Marcelo the chance to make a fine save by shooting too early.

Perhaps crucially, the Thais were smaller in stature than their opposition, and they lost pretty much every 50-50.

Wearing their famous yellow, blue and white kit, the Brazilians also showed flashes of brilliance, most notably through powerful striker Tavares and the attack-minded Ricardo, whose middle name, by the way, is Virtuoso. Very apt.

Tavares got the goal he deserved, notching Brazil's third half-way through the second half when rounding off a fine move.

Substitute Leandro - who, in his half-hour on the pitch, displayed more trickery than a Paul Daniels magic show - burst through midfield, and passed to Marcio, who, with an outrageous dummy, let the ball run to Tavares. The left-footed striker curled the ball exquisitely into the far corner with his "wrong" foot.

The crowd liked it. A lot.

Marcio was credited by the announcer with Brazil's final goal on 75 minutes, but in truth his cross was deflected home by the unfortunate Tada Keelalay past helpless 'keeper Damrongsak Boonmuang.

In reality, brave though the Thais were, Brazil could have doubled the final scoreline had they been more ruthless, and they are sure to give in-form England Under-16s a tough time when the two sides meet in the tournament decider at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Sunday.

One thing of note, meanwhile, was that both sides tried to play the ball out from defence, even when under pressure.

Cries of "Hoof it!" and "Get it out!" will no doubt begin ringing round Bootham Crescent in a few weeks' time, should Peter Swan or Barry Jones get the ball on the edge of their own box.

Not so for these two teams, who have obviously been taught to keep possession rather than "boot it out", even when in doubt. At this developing level, especially, that would appear to be the way forward.

Nationwide International Tournament

Brazil 4, Thailand 0

Brazil: Marcelo dos Santos, Wendel Raul Gomes, Wescley Pina Goncalves, Heder Martins Singulano, Francisco Terra Alberoni, Bruno Ferraz das Neves (Leandro do Bonfirm 55), Bruno Moraes (Anderson Costa 67), Marcos Magno Tavares, Marcio Claudio Soares, Ricardo Magno Virtuoso, Rafael Pires Casimiro

Goals: Bruno Moraes 15, 52; Tavares 66, Keelalay og 79.

Thailand: Damrongsak Boonmuang, Tada Keelalay, Thongchai Chairboon (Samattchai Sirirac56), Natthaphong Samana, Piyachat Chinchai, Weerayut Jitkuntod, Nitisin Pasukmuang, Withawat Seechuen, Visist Chanvichanon, Atthipol Poosap, Satid Mukkratok (Chakrit Buathong 56)

Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)

Attendance: 831