Brazil will be there for the final of the Futsal World Cup, thanks to its narrow victory against Ukraine (3-2) in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Wednesday October 2. Five-time winner of the competition (1989, 1992, 1996, 2008, 2012), the Seleçao had not reached the bottom step of the World Cup for twelve years.
But qualification was very difficult to obtain, even though Marcel and his teammates had never been worried since they entered the fray (five wins, 35 goals scored). In a first period where the two teams were evenly matched, the Ukrainians opened the scoring just before the break thanks to Ihor Cherniavskyi (0-1, 18′).
A sixth fatal mistake for Ukraine
Trailing for the first time in the competition, the Brazilians returned from the locker room with the knife between their teeth, very quickly regaining the advantage, thanks to two goals in quick succession from Rostyslav Semenchenko against his side (1-1, 21′) and Dyego (2-1, 22′). They then thought they had done the hard part, but Ukraine equalized with a magnificent collective movement, through Ihor Korsun (2-2, 29′).
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Oleksandr Kosenko’s men finally cracked by conceding a sixth foul which gave Brazil a free kick without a wall ten meters away. Dyego took charge of shooting it, deceiving the vigilance of Oleksandr Sukhov (3-2, 36′) who could only brush the ball. In the final, on Sunday, the Seleçao will face the winner of the semi-final between France and Argentina, who face each other this Thursday, October 3 (5 p.m.).
