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 Americas & Beyond | April 2008 
Uruguay and Argentina Survive Elimination Scare
 Beach Soccer Worldwide
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A most thrilling matchday saw traditional powerhouses Argentina and Uruguay on the verge of elimination (on goal difference) before rallying back and winning their matches against Chile and Paraguay, respectively. The traditional rivals will meet in Saturday’s semi-final, while Venezuela – winners 7-5 against Peru today – meets world champions.
Life has definitely been easier for South American beach soccer powerhouses. Once the lone dominating forces of the sport within the continent, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have proved for now at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 Qualifier CONMEBOL Buenos Aires that they are still the teams to beat, but their rivals have also made clear that the gap is narrowing dramatically.
Runners-up in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 and the 3rd-placed team in last year’s edition, Uruguay was inches close of being knocked out by Paraguay: theGuarani finished the 1st period with a 4-1 lead that would have taken them, and not the favourites, to the semifinal. That was when the famous Uruguayan grit entered the scene as a pair of late goals by striker Ricar finally took them to the 5-4 win.
“It seems like this is the way it has to be with Uruguay: there is no such thing as an easy match for us”, said head coach Venancio Ramos in a relieved voice right after the match. “You have to praise the Paraguayans and the form they have shown since yesterday against Brazil: at the end of the day, they have faced two teams that finished in the top 3 of last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and faced both quite bravely.”
The road wasn’t any easier for hosts Argentina, who in spite of coming from two straight victories – including an imposing 8-0 over Peru – had a quite dangerous clash against Chile. After Venezuela’s 7-5 triumph against the Peruvians in the day’s opener, all the Chileans needed was a regular time win to clinch the semifinal berth along with the Venezuelans. Argentina had to either win, take the match to overtime or score at least 4 goals. From one moment to the other, the hosts went from being shamefully knocked out at home from attaining the group lead and a semifinal spot. After trailing 4-2 until 2’35 minutes before the end of regulation, the Argentineans battled back and found their glory 41 seconds prior to the final whistle, thanks to a header by Ezequiel Hilaire that tied the game at 4 goals apiece and took the match to the extra 3 minutes. In extra time, as their fate had already been sealed, Argentina defeated the Chileans and are set to play a classic matchup against Uruguay in Saturday’s semi-final.
Venezuela did its job and simply had to thank the Argentineans for the win. The bad news is that now they should be up against the almost unbeatable defending world champions of Brazil.
The match schedule is set like this:
Wed 23.04.08
3:15pm - Chile 8 x 5 Peru
4:30pm - Brazil 8 x 3 Uruguay
Followed by - Argentina 2 x 1 Venezuela
Thu 24.04.08
3:15pm Venezuela 5 x 4 Chile
4:30pm Paraguay 4 x 6 Brazil
Followed by - Peru 0 x 8 Argentina
Fri 25.04.08
3:15pm - Venezuela 7 x 5 Peru
4:30pm - Uruguay 5 x 4 Paraguay
Followed by - Argentina 6 x 5 Chile (2 x 1 a.e.t)
The teams play round robin within their pools and the top two of each advance to the semifinals:
Semi-finals*
Sat 26.04.08*
4:30pm - Brazil vs. Venezuela
Followed by - Argentina vs. Uruguay
Sun 27.04.08**
Noon - Loser M10 vs. Loser M11 (Play-off 3rd/4th)
Followed by - Winner M10 vs. Winner M11 (Final)
** The two finalists and the winner of the 3rd place play-off will join France (host country); Cameroon and Senegal (CAF) and El Salvador and Mexico to be the South American representatives at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
 Click HERE for the complete matchday report (PDF)
 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008
Follow the competition from Durban, to Puerto Vallarta, Buenos Aires, Dubai, and Benidorm on the road leading up to the final championship matches in Marseille, France, the host country for the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. |
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