MIAMI – Four Concacaf nations concluded their group stage participation in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 on Friday and Sunday, with Costa Rica sealing its place in the knockout round, where the Ticos will play against Brazil, on Tuesday, September 24.
Panama won its final encounter but missed qualifying as one of the four best third-place teams with Venezuela’s win over Guatemala, who was also eliminated as a result. Cuba also exited the tournament after a third consecutive defeat.
Costa Rica win against the hosts and now will play against Brazil
Costa Rica won 5-3 against Uzbekistan in Group A on Friday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Edwin Cubillo placed Costa Rica in the lead in the 4’ with his second goal of the tournament. The hosts also needed a victory to keep their hopes of advancing alive and equalized in the 14’ through Mashrab Adilov.
Yosel Leon restored the lead for Los Ticos in the 20’, scoring his third goal in two matches, for a 2-1 advantage at the half.
Uzbekistan responded with two goals after halftime to take the lead, first from Ilhomjon Hamroev in the 27’ followed by Samariddin Berkinov in the 30’. Ikhtiyor Ropiev exited the match for the hosts after receiving a second yellow card in the 32’.
The Central Americans rallied with three unanswered goals, from Diego Chavarria in the 32’, Minor Cabalceta in the 33’, and Jean Salas in the 38’, for the comeback victory.
The next opponent for Costa Rica will be Brazil in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Cuba exits tournament with loss to Croatia
Cuba lost 7-nil to Croatia in Group B on Friday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Kristian Cekol opened the scoring in the 2’ to place Croatia in front. The Europeans extended their lead in the 13’ with a strike from Niko Vukmir for a two-goal lead at halftime.
Croatia added to their tally in the second half from the likes of Luka Peric (23’, 31’), Dario Marinovic (25’), Cekol (26’) and David Mataja (31’).
Cuba concluded its sixth participation at the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The Caribbean nation has bowed out in the group stage on all six occasions.
Castrellón, Caballero score braces in Panama win
Panama won 8-3 against Tajikistan in Group E on Sunday at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara.
Nekruz Alimakhmadov opened the scoring in the 5’ to place Tajikistan in front. Panama equalized through an own goal in the 14’ from Dilshod Salomov.
Mario Forero extended the lead for Los Canaleros seconds later, in the 14’, with Ruman Milord adding another in the 20’, seconds before the halftime break.
Samandar Rizomov cut the deficit for the Central Asian side in the 27’. Alfonso Maquensi answered in the 31’ with his third goal in as many matches.
Idris Yorov added one more for the opposing side in the 35’ before Jose Caballero (38’, 39’) and Abdiel Castrellón (38’, 38’) struck braces to lead Panama to victory.
Panama was in a position to advance as third place in the group but could not qualify following Venezuela’s victory later in the day. The nation exited in the group stage for a third consecutive edition and concluded its fourth consecutive participation at the Futsal World Cup.
Guatemala exits with defeat to Venezuela
Guatemala lost 7-3 against Venezuela in Group F on Sunday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Venezuela took the lead in the 1’ from a Kevin Briceño strike. Jenner Paniagua equalized for Guatemala in the 16’ before Wilmer Cabarcas restored the lead for the South Americans in the 18’.
Victor Carreño (25’) and Jesus Viamonte (27’) extended the lead for Venezuela to start the second half. Marvin Sandoval scored in the 31’ to cut the deficit, his third goal in as many matches.
Briceño completed his brace in the 34’ and 36’, and Carlos Sanz scored in the 35’, to seal the victory for Venezuela. Nelson Tagre scored in the 40’ for Guatemala to conclude the Central American nation’s participation.
Los Chapines exit the tournament in the group stage for the fifth consecutive occasion. The 2024 edition marked a sixth participation at the Futsal World Cup for Guatemala.
