Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Medellin: Debutants Vietnam suffered a setback in their 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign as they lost 7-1 to Paraguay in their second Group Stage match on Wednesday (local time).
Having downed Guatemala 4-2 in their campaign opener, the Vietnamese bowed down to a Paraguay side that were looking to bounce back after a first-up defeat against Italy.
It was a clinical display from Paraguay who took full advantage of a slow-starting Vietnam side, with the Paraguayans turning on the style against Vietnam to score five unanswered goals by half-time.
Francisco Martinez capitalised on good teamwork to fire home inside three minutes, but it was a three-goal three-minute salvo midway through the opening half that left debutants Vietnam stunned.
Paraguay’s quick and accurate ball movement left Vietnam chasing shadows at times, and the south-east Asians struggled to maintain the ball when the opportunity arose.
To their credit, Vietnam regrouped in the second period and enjoyed more possession that their opponents, although there was to be no reward until Van Vu Tran scored with virtually the last kick of the match.
In fact it was La Albirroja who had the better of the half, at least according to the scoresheet, as Richard Rejala and Juan Pedrozo both netted in the final seven minutes.
Vietnam will conclude their Group C campaign on Saturday with a tough task against European heavyweights Italy.
Vietnam scorer:
Tran Van Vu (39’54”)
Source: FIFA.com, FIFA/Getty Images