The best of South America clashes with the titan of Europe in FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup last four

Matches on Friday
(PhilSports Arena)
6 p.m. – Argentina vs Portugal
8:30 p.m. – Spain vs Brazil

IN-FORM Emilly and top-ranked Brazil asserted their mastery of Asia’s best Japan, 6-1, to forge a blockbuster duel with No. 2 Spain in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup semifinals.

Emilly, the Best Women’s Player in the 2024 Futsal Planet awards, fired two rockets in the first 11 minutes and added a third strike late to spark the Brazilians’ dispatching of world No. 5 Japan in the well-attended quarterfinal match at the PhilSports Arena.

Ana Luiza (9^th), Debora Vanin (13^th) and Luana (14^th) also got on the act as rampaging Seleção stamped their class on the reigning Asian titlists, who only avoided a shutout when Brazil keeper Julia deflected Mizuki Nakamura’s attempt into their own net at the 36^th.

Emilly’s hat trick put her scoring tally up to six in the tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation for a tie for first with Spain ace Irene Cordoba in the race for the Golden Boot award.

The five-goal verdict sent the South American champions to a salivating Last-4 encounter with the Euro royalty Spaniards, who advanced via a 6-1 drubbing of Morocco in their side of the quarterfinals last Monday.

Meanwhile, world No. 3 Portugal lived up to its billing in a 7-2 drubbing of No. 7 Italy that set it up with No. 6 Argentina, which reached the semis first with a 4-1 verdict over Morocco last Monday.

Lidia Moreira found the back of the net thrice (sixth, 21^st and 35^th) while Janice Silva shot a brace (24^th and 39^th) and Carolina Pedreira (fifth) and Kika (28^th) rounded out the Portuguese’s scoring parade.

The Final Four twin-bill that both pit a South American titan against a European giant erupts on Friday. — Olmin Leyba