Courtesy: Herald Tribune


Ukraine beats Egypt 5-1 to lead group

The Associated Press

October 7, 2008

BRASILIA, Brazil: Ukraine posted three second-half goals in defeating Egypt 5-1 and grabbing the lead in Group C at the Futsal World Cup on Tuesday.

Ukraine and Argentina have seven points each but the former was ahead on goal difference. Guatemala also stayed alive in the group by beating China 10-1 and moving into third place with six points. The top two teams in each of the four groups will advance to the second round.

Also, the Czech Republic edged Libya 4-2 at Maracanazinho Arena in Rio de Janeiro, moving into third place in Group D with six points. Iran, a 4-2 winner over Uruguay, was second with seven points, one less than two-time defending champion Spain.

Ukraine opened with an own goal by Sameh Saleh just seven minutes in at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia. Valeriy Legchanov added to the lead in the 18th, and Dmytro Ivanov, Sergiy Cheporniuk and Valeriy Zamyatin sealed the victory with goals in the 21st, 31st and 36th.

The lone goal for already eliminated Egypt was from Mizo in the 29th.

Ukraine's best performance since FIFA began organizing the Futsal World Cup in 1989 was a fourth-place finish in 1996 in Spain.

It will face China in its last group match on Thursday, while Argentina plays Guatemala, which downed China thanks to a hat trick by Carlos Estrada.

Host Brazil is the only team to have secured a second-round berth.

Spain and Brazil are the only nations to have won the World Cup in futsal, which 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