MIAMI – Four Concacaf countries continued their campaigns in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 with group stage encounters on Tuesday and Thursday.
Costa Rica drew with the Netherlands on Tuesday to begin the second round of group matches. Cuba, Panama, and Guatemala fell for a consecutive occasion.
The third and last round of group stage matches takes place from Friday through Sunday. The top two nations and the three best third place teams move on to the knockout round.
Yosel Leon rescues point for Costa Rica
Costa Rica drew 2-2 against the Netherlands in Group A on Tuesday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Los Ticos took the lead in the 7’ by forcing an own goal from Tevfik Ceyar. Said Bouzambou equalized for the Europeans in the 19’ to send the match 1-1 into halftime.
Ismail Ouaddouh extended the lead for the Netherlands in the 21’, but Yosel Leon would strike for the Central Americans in the 32’ to rescue a point.
The next opponent for Costa Rica will be hosts Uzbekistan on Friday as both nations will seek a victory to advance to the Round of 16.
Morejon scores brace for Cuba against Thailand
Cuba lost 10-5 to Thailand in Group B on Tuesday at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara.
Cristian Valiente placed the Caribbean nation in the lead in the 4’ with a left-footed shot from outside the box. Thailand would rally to score three consecutive from Krit Aransanyalak in the 6’, Ronnachai Jungwongsuk in the 12’, and Suphawut Thueanklang in the 14’.
Cristian Morejon pulled one back for Cuba in the 16’ after stripping the defender and striking inside the penalty area. Dayan Cotilla struck 18 seconds later with a recovery of his own to strike from just outside the box, tying the match at 3-3.
Thueanklang would convert for his brace in the 26’ to retake the lead for Thailand. Itticha Praphaphan scored twice in the 28’ before Muhammad Osamanmusa extended the lead further in the 29’.
Iduan Martinez struck from distance in the 30’ to cut the deficit again for Cuba. Thailand would increase their lead with Apiwat Chaemcharoen striking in the 32’ and Osamanmusa in the 37’.
Cristian Morejon struck from long range in the 37’ to score his second of the day for Cuba. Sarawut Phalaphruek scored in the 39’ to conclude the scoring.
The next opponents for the Caribbean nation will be Croatia on Friday.
Maquensi strikes again for Panama
Panama fell 6-3 against Morocco in Group E on Monday at Humo Arena in Tashkent.
Soufiane El Mesrar opened the scoring in the 2’ and Soufian Charraoui followed in the 6’ to put the African nation in the lead.
Abdiel Ortiz scored the first for Panama in the 16’ to cut the deficit. Morocco would add two more from Soufian Charraoui in the 17’, and Idriss Raiss El Fenni in the 22’.
Aquiles Campos would take on back for Panama in the 27’ before El Fenni would strike again in the 36’.
Alfonso Maquensi scored in the 33’ for his second consecutive goal in as many matches. El Mesrar would add a sixth for Morocco in the 39’.
Los Canaleros will finish their group stage participation against Tajikistan on Sunday.
Ruiz, Sandoval lead Guatemala in another back-and-forth match
Guatemala lost 9-4 against Iran in Group F on Thursday at Bukhara Universal Sports Complex in Bukhara.
Patrick Ruiz opened the scoring in the 6’ with his second goal of the tournament. Saeid Ahmad Abbasi equalized 13 seconds later for Iran, before Salar Aghapour added another in the 11’ and Hossein Tayebi extended the lead further in the 14’.
Ruiz converted for his brace in the 15’ to score his third goal of the campaign. Marvin Sandoval tied the match for Guatemala in the 20’ to send the match 3-3 at halftime.
Iran would answer with five consecutive goals in the second half from Aghapour in the 21’, Behrooz Azimi in the 25’, Saeid Ahmad Abbasi in the 27’, Mahdi Karimi in the 32’ and Tayebi in the 37’.
Edgar Santizo scored in the 38’ for Guatemala before Abbasi collected his third of the day for Iran in the 40’.
Los Chapines face Venezuela on Sunday to close the group stage.