Semi-final fixtures decided in Rio

Hosts Brazil to face Argentina on Saturday while Paraguay play Uruguay for a place in the FIFA World Cup

Brazil and Paraguay comfortably topped their groups, both scoring nine on the final day on the group stages to hand second-place finishes to Argentina and Uruguay, both of which are already through to the semi-finals.  

Brazil will now face Argentina in the semi-finals and the reward is much more than simply a place in the final of CONMEBOL Eliminatorias Mundial FIFA Fútbol Playa Brasil 2019, but also a ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.

In the other semi-final match, Paraguay will face Uruguay. If Paraguay make it to the final, then the teams that lose in the semi-finals will still be in for a chance of making the FIFA World Cup, and will play an intense third-place play-off for the final berth. 

On the final day of group stage action in the CONMEBOL Eliminatorias, the reigning world champions handed Uruguay their first defeat in Rio, beating them 9-1 to top Group A.

At the bottom end of the group, Bolivia and Ecuador fought in a play-off to avoid bottom place, which Ecuador won by six goal to three.

Topping Group B, also by scoring nine goals, was Paraguay, who swept aside Argentina 9-3. Venezuela missed out on their last chance for points in the group stages with a 3-5 loss to Chile. 

The battle will resume after a rest day on Saturday when, alongside the semi-finals, the play-offs will be contested to decide the final finishing places. 

Results and fixtures:

GROUP STAGE (28/04):

Uruguay 8 – 5 Colombia 

Brazil 11 – 1 Bolivia 

Paraguay 5 – 3 Chile 

Peru 6 (1) – (3) 6 Argentina 

GROUP STAGE (29/04)

Argentina 5 – 4 Venezuela

Paraguay 7 – 2 Peru

Uruguay 4 – 3 Ecuador

Brazil 9 – 5 Colombia

GROUP STAGE (30/04)

Ecuador 4 – 8 Colombia

Uruguay 5 – 1 Bolivia 

Venezuela 4 – 5 Peru *AET 

Argentina 3 – 2 Chile *AET

GROUP STAGE (01/05)

Chile 5 – 8 Peru

Paraguay 5 – 4 Venezuela *AET

Bolivia 4 – 6 Colombia 

Brazil 11 – 2 Ecuador 

GROUP STAGE (02/05)

Venezuela 3 – 5 Chile

Ecuador 6 – 3 Bolivia 

Paraguay 9 – 3 Argentina 

Brazil 9 – 1 Uruguay 

—————————

(04/05)

Brazil v Argentina (Semi-final)

Paraguay v Uruguay (Semi-final)

Ecuador v Chile (7th-place play-off)

Bolivia v Venezuela (9th-place play-off)

(05/05)

FINAL

3rd-place play-off

Colombia v Peru (5th-place play-off)

Stay up-to-date on the results, fixtures and standings of the CONMEBOL Eliminatorias Mundial FIFA Fútbol Playa Brasil 2019 on the Beach Soccer Worldwide website.

PHOTO: RODRIGO GALVÃO (CBSB)