Courtesy: Herald Tribune


US loses again in Futsal World Cup

The Associated Press

October 6, 2008

BRASILIA, Brazil: The United States lost to Portugal 8-1 Monday, completing the Futsal World Cup with four straight losses and a last-place finish in its group.

Russia, behind nine goals from Pula, routed the Solomon Islands 31-2, the biggest victory margin since FIFA began organizing the competition in 1989.

The Solomon Islands, Oceania's lone participant in the 20-team tournament, lost 21-0 to Brazil last week and has been outscored 69-4 in its four defeats.

Russia is second in Group A with six points, three fewer than Brazil. The Russians will secure a second-round berth if they win their last first-round match Wednesday against Japan, a 4-1 winner over Cuba. The top two teams in each of the four groups make the second round.

Brazil and Spain are the only nations to have won the Futsal World Cup in the five tournaments played since 1989. Futsal is played in two 20-minute periods on a surface about the size of a basketball court.





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com