The Paraguayan futsal team won third place in the Futsal Finalissima after winning 2-3 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, in the South American duel that served as a prelude to the defining match that will be played next by Spain and Portugal.
Richard Rejala (m.8), Damián Mareco (m.9) and Arnaldo Báez (m.25) converted the goals for the Guarani team, while Cristian Borruto (m.12) and Alan Brandi (m.27) scored for the local in a duel that repeated the last final of the Copa América played on February 6, which had consecrated the albicelestes after winning 1-0.
Paraguay struck very early in the match with a flurry of goals in the ten minutes of the match that ended up marking the thermometer of a Mary Terán de Weiss stadium that was waiting for a new podium for the Argentine team, as had happened in the official competitions of the last seven years.
About minute 8, a good counterattack in transition led by Pedro Pascottini ended with a great definition by Richard Rejala that left goalkeeper Nicolás Sarmiento without a chance.
The following minute, an assist from Francisco Martínez left Damián Mareco with a clear scoring opportunity, who managed to convert again to extend the lead to the bewilderment of those led by Matías Lucuix.
From that moment on, those led by Carlos Chilavert began to play with the difference on the scoreboard and fell back on Giovanni González’s goal, who had two interventions before an assist from Gerardo Menseguez in the 12th minute allowed Cristian Borruto scoring the local’s first goal in this Finalissima.
With the 1-2 in favor of the visit, the last minutes of the first stage before halftime were pure vertigo with quick transitions in the midfield and great interventions by both goalkeepers Sarmiento and González.
In the second half, there was no change in the tone of the match with good combinations from both teams and great interventions in the goals.
However, a great angled shot by Arnaldo Báez in the 25th minute allowed Paraguay to recover the two-goal lead on the scoreboard.
Argentina fell into desperation to try to discount the score and two minutes later it was Alana Brandi’s heel who was able to put the Albicelestes back in the race for a tie.
The end of the match was heart-stopping because it went back and forth with Argentina betting everything on a draw and Paraguay against in search of securing victory.
With three minutes to go it was Giovanni González who enabled Báez to shoot the crossbar with the Argentine goal unguarded and then Nicolás Sarmiento appeared to save the locals.
And then, one minute from the end, it was a double save by Giovanni González himself, which guaranteed the Guarani victory in Argentine territory so that Paraguay could keep the bronze medal and third place on the podium in this Finalissima.
The final will be played later between the two European winners of the semi-finals: Spain, who beat Argentina 3-0, and Portugal, who recovered to beat Paraguay 2-1.
– Data sheet:
2. Argentina: Nicolas Sarmiento; Pablo Taborda, Lucas Bolo Alemany, Matías Edelstein, Alan Brandi.
Coach: Matías Lucuix.
3. Paraguay: Giovanni Gonzalez; Damian Mareco, Hugo Martinez, Pedro Pascottini, Richard Rejala.
Coach: Carlos Chilavert.
Goals: 0-1, m.8: Rejala. 0-2: m.9: Mareco. 1-2, m.12: Borruto. 1-3, m.25: Baez. 2-3, m.27: Brandy.
Referees: Peruvian Mario Espichan, Ecuadorian Jonhatan Herbas and Brazilian Gean Telles. They booked Menzeguez, from Argentina, and Báez, Mareco, Salas and Giovanni González from Paraguay.
Incidents: match for third place in the Finalissima, played at the Mary Terán de Weiss stadium in Buenos Aires. EFE
