MIAMI – Four Concacaf countries begin their title hopes in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 with group stage encounters on Saturday and Monday.
Costa Rica and Cuba were part of the opening day on Saturday. Panama and Guatemala got on the court, with the latter delivering a back-and-forth encounter against France on Monday.
The second round of group stage matches takes place from Tuesday through Thursday. Each nation will seek its first set of three points to build on their aspirations to advance.
Cubillo strikes in fourth World Cup for Costa Rica
Costa Rica fell 5-2 to Paraguay in Group A on Saturday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Adolfo Salas opened the scoring in the 1’ to place the South Americans in the lead. Minor Cabalceta equalized in the 7’ but Paraguay would regain the lead with goals from Emerson Mendez and Pedro Pascottini in the 11’.
Edwin Cubillo took one back for Costa Rica in the 17’ to score in his fourth Futsal World Cup. Paraguay would answer with two more, from Arnaldo Baez in the 24’ and Francisco Martinez in the 39’, to seal their victory.
Los Ticos will meet the Netherlands on Tuesday, before closing the group stage against hosts Uzbekistan on Friday.
Cuba falls to Brazil
Cuba lost 10-nil to Brazil in Group B on Saturday at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara.
Marcel (2’, 23’, 33’) and Marlon (13’, 23’, 39’) delivered hat-tricks to lead Brazil to its first victory. Neguinho (11’), Felipe Valerio (13’), Pito (25’) and Arthur (28’) struck the other four goals.
Cristian Morejon delivered one of Cuba's best attempts in the 11’ but was denied by the woodwork. Iduan Martinez had the last attempt of the night in the 40’ but could not break the clean sheet.
The next opponents for the Caribbean nation are Thailand on Tuesday and Croatia on Friday.
Maquensi pulls one back as Panama falls to reigning champions
Panama fell 10-1 against Portugal in Group E on Monday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
An own goal from Jaime Penaloza in the 5’ placed Portugal in the lead. Afonso extended the lead in the 6’ and Bruno Coelho (8’), Tomas Paco (11’), Erick (11’), Afonso (16'), Andre (17’), and Kutchy (20’) would increase the margin for the defending champions.
Andre secured his brace in the 29’ to continue the scoring for Portugal in the second half. Alfonso Maquensi scored for Panama in the 35’ from a penalty kick opportunity. Pany would add the last goal for Portugal in the 37’.
Los Canaleros will meet Morocco on Thursday and finish the group stage with Tajikistan on Sunday.
Guatemala and France deliver a thriller
Guatemala lost 6-3 against France in Group F on Monday at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara.
Marvin Sandoval placed Guatemala in the lead in the 2’, and Roman Alvarado followed with a goal of his own in the 10’. Arthur Tchaptchet answered for France with a brace (13’, 18’) to equalize.
Patrick Ruiz restored the lead for the Central Americans in the 20’ to send Guatemala with a 3-2 lead into halftime. The French rallied in the second half with goals from Souheil Mouhoudine (21’), Kevin Ramirez (31’), Abdessamad Mohammed (32’), and Nelson Lutin (37’)
Los Chapines face Iran on Thursday and closes the group stage against Venezuela on Sunday.
