Spain cruised through to the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup quarter-finals in Manila, while Thailand won to leave themselves needing a draw against Colombia to advance.
Antia Perez flashed the panache as Spain reached the knockout phase of the World Cup, while Darika Peanpailun was central to Thailand stealing a slight lead in the race to join them. A draw against Colombia in their final group game, indeed, will send the Asians through at the South Americans’ expense.
Spain are the real deal. They’ve beaten two of the top eight teams on the Futsal Women’s World Ranking with ease.
Antia Perez wowed the crowd with a nutmeg, Laura Cordoba showed why she is one of the planet’s most complete performers, and Vane Sotelo bagged a brace. Colombia now need nothing less than victory against Thailand to continue in this competition.
“We’re really happy with the match. We already knew we were going to face very tough, demanding opponents, and that we’d have difficult moments. But we stayed together as a team, fought hard and got what we came for,” said Spanish pivot Vane Sotelo.
Spain are now unbeaten in 14 games, two shy of their personal best.
Thailand emerged 6-3 winners in a topsy-turvy battle with Canada in their Group B tie on Tuesday.
The win keeps the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup runners-up in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals with a tie against Colombia to come on Friday.
Thailand got off to a great start, taking the lead in the second minute when Darika Peanpailun caressed a precise follow-up shot into the bottom corner after Jenjira Bubpha’s effort had been blocked by Sophie Therien.
Canada struck the post through Cynthia Gaspar Freire but Thailand netted again in the fourth minute through a well-worked set-piece with Jenjira’s kick-in finding Darika at the back to sweep home.
Darika then lobbed goalkeeper Lea Palacio-Tellier but was denied by the crossbar as Thailand exuded confidence gained from the early goals but the game changed midway through the first half.
From a free-kick, Canada halved the deficit when Joelle Gosselin’s strike was palmed by Sasiprapha Suksen into the path of Esther Brossard, who knocked in the rebound in the ninth minute.
Jenjira smacked an effort against the post in the 12th minute but the next goal went Canada’s way, Brossard turning in Jade Houmphanh’s cross to level the tie a minute later.
Thailand, however, recovered to take a 3-2 lead into the break thanks to Sangrawee Meekham’s individual effort in the final minute of the first half.
Canada made a strong start to the second half, drawing level for the second time in the 23rd minute when Maude Lagace powered through from her own half to fire past Sasiprapha.
Sasiprapha then saved Gosselin’s penalty before Thailand retook the lead in the 25th minute, Nattamon Artkla’s short corner finding Darika who rifled her shot into the top corner.
Thailand made sure of the points with further efforts from Arriya Saetoen (30th) and Jenjira (32nd) to seal their first win at the tournament.
