The Venezuelan national team achieved a great feat on Wednesday at the 2024 Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan, qualifying for the quarter-finals with a 1-2 victory over Spain, who will have to wait at least four more years to get their third world champion star.
Spain never looked comfortable on the court and offered its worst performance of the World Cup with defensive lapses that cost it a goal and having to try to come back for the third time in four games in Andijan.
The team coached by Fede Vidal was a bundle of nerves and their inaccuracies in defense were key to Venezuela gaining confidence as the minutes passed, although the intensity with which they defended cost them four fouls in eight minutes.
Spain maintained possession in the early stages and put Villalobos in trouble with shots from Catela, Mellado and Adolfo, but the ‘vinotinto’ goalkeeper was very sure and saved the chances.
Problems for La Roja
The match had already turned against La Roja in the 13th minute with a goal scored by José Villalobos, who beat Jesus Herrero from his area, who did not know how to time his exit well.
Spain asked for the action to be reviewed because it was considered a foul on the Movistar Inter goalkeeper, but the referees, the Chinese An Ran and the Japanese Hiroyuki Kobayashi, validated the goal.
It was a tough blow for the Spaniards and Venezuela was close to making it 0-2 with a move by their top scorer Kevin Briceño, who has scored five goals in the tournament, but his shot went wide.
Víctor Carreño also had a chance to increase the lead in a one-on-one with Dídac Plana in the last minute of the first half, while Spain tried their hand at it with shots from Cortés and Mellado.
The two-time world champions came out with a different disposition in the second period, were more aggressive and sought the equalizer from the start.
A connection between Cortés and Raúl Gómez ended with the tie at one, scored by the latter after Villalobos rejected the ball.
Spain took heart and enjoyed clear scoring opportunities under the direction of Catela and with Adolfo and Antonio Pérez as protagonists in dangerous actions.
The clearest chance, however, was for Raúl Gómez, who sent the ball high into an empty goal.
Leader of La Vinotinto
Venezuela, led by Carlos Sanz, new signing of Jaén Paraíso Interior, did not give up and despite the effort created danger in quick transitions by Viamonte and Víctor Carreño.
With 1.22 seconds left, Sanz connected with a volley and the ball, after lightly touching Carreño, entered Dídac Plana’s goal.
Spain requested an electronic VAR review, but the image showed the ball crossing the line and the score was 1-2.
Fede Vidal placed Catela as a goalkeeper-player and the Spanish team tried to force extra time, but without clarity in the passes and without creating clear scoring opportunities.
Venezuela celebrated its historic passage to the quarter-finals, where Ukraine awaits them on Sunday, September 29, while Spain suffered an unexpected failure.
Taskent / EFE
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2024-09-26 11:04:12
