Courtesy: Herald Tribune


Paraguay beats Italy 4-2 to advance

The Associated Press

October 8, 2008

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Striker Jose Rotella scored in each half to help Paraguay stun favorite Italy 4-2 and advance to the second round of the Futsal World Cup on Wednesday.

The Italians, runner-up in the last World Cup, still advanced, edging Portugal on goal difference to grab the last spot available in Group B. All three teams finished with nine points from four matches, with Paraguay winning the group and Portugal finishing third.

Also, host Brazil routed Cuba 9-0 behind a pair of goals by FIFA player of the year Falcao at Nilson Nelson Stadium in Brasilia.

Italy opened the scoring at Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro with a goal by Sandro Zanetti in the sixth minute, but Rotella replied in the 15th and 37th minutes to rally the Paraguayans from a halftime deficit to the surprise victory.

Fabio Alcaraz in the 21st and Rene Villalba in the 32nd also got on the board for Paraguay, and Italy netted with an own goal by Jose Luis Santander in the 16th.

Portugal, which beat Thailand 3-2 with a late winner by Cardinal, ended a goal shy from reaching the next round.

Brazil, a three-time world champion, finished first in Group A with 12 points, three more than second-place Russia. The Russians secured their second-round berth with a 9-1 victory over third-place Japan in Rio.

The other two groups will be decided on Thursday. Two-time defending champion Spain and Iran are in position to advance in Group D, while Ukraine, Argentina and Guatemala will fight for the Group C spots.

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