Courtesy: Herald Tribune

Spain advances to semis

The Associated Press

October 12, 2008

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Spain beat Argentina 2-1 Sunday to guarantee a spot in the semifinals of the Futsal World Cup.

Spain, the defending world champions, struggled in the Group F match as they have through much of the tournament.

Fernandao put Spain on the board in the 14th. But Argentina got a last-second goal to end the first half 1-1.

Spain needed only three minutes of the second half to score the deciding goal.

Brazil beat Italy 3-0 to take the lead in Group E.

Brazil dominated the match from the outset, with Italy, a team made up entirely of naturalized Brazilians, on the defensive for most of the game.

Schumacher scored in the 11th minute for Brazil and the side added a second goal from Lenisio just three minutes later. Ari added Brazil's third goal in the 9th minute of the second half.

In the other Group F match, Russia beat Paraguay 5-4, while in Group E Iran beat Ukraine also by 5-4.

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