Italy provided a second-half surge to clinch three points against a tenacious Paraguay as they opened their FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.
Caution was the underlying theme of the opening exchanges, as the two sides sized each other up. Discipline was in plentiful supply, but it was Paraguay who cracked the Italian shell first, Juan Salas finding space to turn in a corner.
Italy, though – fast, smart and physical – were not to be kept down. Paraguay looked to exploit them on the counter at every opportunity but the Azzurri’s probing and persistence saw Lima draw level, only for Salas to strike back.
The Italy that reappeared after the break arrived with confidence, invigorated, and seemingly having put dynamite in their boots. Three times they registered from distance without reply to turn the game totally on its head.
First Sergio Romano struck, before Carlos Dos Santos followed suit. A second yellow for Gabriel Ayala certainly didn’t help Paraguay’s cause as their single-goal deficit doubled in size while down to four, courtesy of another stinging strike through Alex Merlim.
The South Americans refused to concede defeat, but Stefano Mammarella kept them at bay as the clock got the better of them. Paraguay will look to bounce back against Vietnam on Tuesday, while Italy have a meeting with Guatemala.
