A stunning six-goal haul from Ricardinho helped Portugal to a convincing 9-0 victory over Panama at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 on Tuesday.
The result in Cali was not only Portugal’s first win in the tournament, it was their biggest victory at a Futsal World Cup, with the Group A encounter proving to be the Ricardinho show.
The Portuguese captain struck five times in an emphatic first-half display that had the European side eight goals in front at the break. Ricardinho scored the match winner just 12 seconds in from a well-executed set-piece and what followed was a goal fest from the Iberian nation.
Panama were no match for the Portuguese in the opening period, as Ricardinho found the net four more times, including two second penalties. Cardinal struck a brace before Miguel Castro completed the first-half scoring.
Only one goal was scored after the break, and it was Ricardinho that struck his sixth of the match shortly after the restart to complete the nine-goal result for the Portuguese.
Group A will complete their schedule on Friday. Portugal face Uzbekistan in Medellin, while Panama take on tournament hosts Colombia in Cali.
