Today would be the end. Today was the end. But if the script said Higuita would make the final FIFA Futsal World Cup\u2122 appearance of his spectacular, sport-shifting career, the gloveless goalkeeper had other ideas. The 38-year-old\u2019s comic-book heroics inspired Kazakhstan to the greatest result in their history \u2013 and one that ended Portugal\u2019s enduring hegemony.<\/p>\n
Kaka and his crew weren\u2019t the only ones to register their match meridian. Morocco\u2019s mind-blowing synchrony ripped their rivals to shreds in the first 20 and, though IR Iran battled back boldly, Soufian Charraoui, Soufiane El Mesrar and fellow magicians held on to reach the quarter-finals of the global finals.<\/p>\n
Morocco will now battle Brazil in Bukhara, while Kazakhstan await the Argentina-Croatia victors in Tashkent.<\/p>\n
IR Iran 3-4 Morocco
\nIR Irangoals: Mohammadhossein Derakhshani (4), Hossein Tayebi (21), Moslem Oladghobad (22)
\nMorocco goals: Khalid Bouzid (7), Alireza Rafieipour (11), Soufiane El Mesrar (17), Idriss Raiss El Fenni (20)
\nPlayer of the Match: Soufian Charraoui (Morocco)<\/p>\n
It was promoted as a pulsating clash of spectacular styles. It even eclipsed its billing. From start to finish, Iran and Morocco put on an exhilarating spectacle. It was a match of two periods, but the magnificent Soufian Charraoui and fellow Africans bossed theirs narrowly more than the Asians did theirs. Morocco\u2019s prize was a quarter-finals against Brazil. The spectators\u2019 was a thriller they will remember for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n
Quotes
\n\u201cWe made a very good start, but we were out of control after that in the first half. The second half was completely different. We scored two goals in less than two minutes, but luck wasn\u2019t on our side. It\u2019s over. All the best to Morocco.\u201d
\nVahid Shamsaee, IR Iran coach<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of injuries, we had to try different tactics today. But we spoke a lot with the coach before the game and we said, \u2018If we lose, we go home. We can\u2019t let that happen\u2019. We know it was our best performance. We\u2019re very happy to reach the next round.\u201d
\nSoufian Charraoui, Morocco player<\/p>\n
Stat
\nMorocco became the first African team to beat Iran in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.<\/p>\n
Portugal 1-2 Kazakhstan
\nPortugal goal: Zicky (21)
\nKazakhstan goals: Chingiz Yessenamanov (11), Dauren Tursagulov (40)
\nPlayer of the Match: Higuita (Kazakhstan)<\/p>\n
Portugal are mentality monsters. They had been behind in major competitions on innumerable occasions over the last six years, but had battled back to stay alive on every occasion, winning all four possible titles in the process. When Zicky equalised in Andijan, it looked like the same would happen again. The implausible reflexes of 38-year-old Higuita and a last-gasp goal from Tursagulov nevertheless saw Kazakhstan pull off the miracle nobody else could.<\/p>\n
Quotes
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a horrible feeling. In sport, the one who creates more and has more volume doesn’t always win. Today is proof of that, but in the end what counts are goals and Kazakhstan were more competent than us. We can only congratulate them.\u201d
\nTiago Brito, Portugal winger<\/p>\n
\u201cI think given the team situation, with injuries and [Leo\u2019s] suspension, today\u2019s win is the most important in the history of Kazakh futsal. We have to keep going. We have to think about bigger things. Now we have to keep our heads, not get carried away by emotions, and have enough fuel to think about the quarter-finals.\u201d
\nKaka, Kazakhstan coach<\/p>\n
Stat
\nPortugal suffered their first defeat in 25 games in major competitions. They had won all four major titles possible during the run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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