Best four of the CONMEBOL Qualifier get defined, with Brazil-Ecuador and Argentina-Paraguay to fight on Saturday for the final
The Paraguayan National Beach Soccer team became the last team to join the semifinals of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? CONMEBOL Qualifier Merlo-San Luis. The Guaraní side needed a victory over Chile wider than one goal difference, and this is precisely what Villalba?s lads managed to do.
The game was terribly busy, and the spectators packing the Parque Recreativo hardly had time to blink. When the crowd were just finding their place in the stands, López opened the score and got the Guaraní ahead. The score remained untouched for a little while, but a crazy minute midway first leg saw four more goals leaving the result in 3-2. Zayas widened the gap in the second period, but Chile reacted and managed to turn the score around with an amusing response to the 4-5.
That meant the only time La Roja would be up front, as Paraguay would not let their chance go and geared up to smash all Chilean possibilities in just three minutes, coming back from a 4-5 to a 8-5. Argote?s last effort was not left without a proper reply by Morán, who closed the score to secure Paraguay?s go-through to the semifinals of the competition, where they will now take on Brazil dreaming to get into the World Cup.
Goals: 1-0: López, min. 10 (2); 2-0: Zayas, min. 5 (1) ; 2-1 : Belaunde, min. 5 (1) ; 3-1 : Barrientos, min. 5 (1) ; 3-2 : Argote, min. 5 (2) ; 4-2 : Zayas, min. 6 (2) ; 4-3 : Argote, min. 1 (2) ; 4-4 : Belaunde, min. 0 (2) ; 4-5 : González, min. 11 (3); 5-5: Barreto, min. 10 (3); 6-5: López, min. 9 (3); 7-5: López, min. 7 (3); 8-5: Pereira, min. 7 (3); 8-6: Argote, min. 7 (3); 9-6: Morán, min. 1 (3)
Argentina close group stage in brilliant fashion
The Hilaire family will have today a reason to be really proud of, as the three members were on hand to seal an imposing victory today for Argentina, who had already secured the best place in Group A. The four goals distributed between them, plus the hits by Cuevas and Mendoza had the hosts running over Colombia in the last game of the regular phase of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? CONMEBOL Qualifier being held in Merlo, San Luis.
Taking advantage of a corner kick assist, Cuevas opened the score really early, only seconds in the game. After that, Petrasso?s lads stayed calmed, controlling the game and never letting the Cafeteros too close to Salgueiro?s nets. By mid second period, the other Argentinean goalie, César Mendoza rocketed a free kick home to widen the gap, opening the scenario for the Hilaires fiesta.
Federico was the one coming next, with the eldest, Santiago, to follow. Ezequiel joined the party in the third period, with Santiango hitting again the score and farewell in the most brilliant fashion, the group stage. Now, the hosts will tackle Ecuador in the semifinals, trying to convert this first chance into a ticket to the final of this continental Qualifier and, consequently, to Papeete.
Goals: 1-0: Cuevas, min. 11 (1); 2-0: Mendoza, min. 8 (2); 3-0: F. Hilaire, min. 2 (2); 4-0: S. Hilaire, min. 1 (2); 5-0: E. Hilaire, min. 3 (3); 6-0: S. Hilaire, min. 0 (3);
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2013 – CONMEBOL QUALIFIER MERLO-SAN LUIS
Match results:
Thursday, February 14th
15:30 ? Paraguay 9-6 Chile
16:45 ? Argentina 6-0 Colombia
Match for tomorrow:
Friday, February 15th
11:00 ? Peru vs Venezuela (play-off for 7th place)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, February 15th
10:00 ? Venezuela vs Colombia (play-off for 7th place)
11:15 ? Chile vs Uruguay (play-off for 5th place)
13:00 ? Brazil vs Paraguay (semifinal 1)
14:15 ? Argentina vs Ecuador (semifinal 2)
