Pasig city: Favorites Spain and Argentina played true to form and barged into the FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup semifinals at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Monday night. Spain, the unbeaten Group B topnotcher, hammered out a 6-1 beating of Group A second seed Morocco behind the four-goal rampage of Irene Cordoba. Group A ruler Argentina outclassed Group B runner-up Colombia, 4-1, led by Lucia Rossi's brace.
According to Philippines News Agency, Spain will take on the winner of the last-eight duel between Brazil and Japan, and Argentina faces either Portugal or Italy in the semifinal stage Friday of the 16-nation meet, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation. On their way to the last four, Cordoba carved her name in World Cup record books. With her strikes at the 14th and 29th seconds, the Spain pivot produced the two fastest goals in the tournament and earned the distinction as the first to score twice in the opening minute.
'I'm proud of the team and really happy to reach the semifinals. That was our goal from the beginning. We know it's not easy,' Cordoba, who made it a hat trick at the 86th second and added a fourth at the 21st minute, said. 'I'm very happy. You don't score four goals at a World Cup every day. Now I have to keep this momentum going,' she added. Marta Lopez-Pardo (34th minute) and Irene Samper (37th minute) rounded out scoring for World No. 2 La Roja. Nadia Laftah (13th) scored the lone goal for the No. 31 Atlas Lionesses.
Meanwhile, Rossi fired two fine strikes (fifth and ninth) between Carina Nunez' goal to give world No. 6 Argentina a 3-0 running start against the No. 8 Colombians. Laura Bustos pushed Colombia one back in the 12th minute but Silvina Nava restored a three-goal cushion for La Albiceleste with a crafty 28-minute volley.
