Ukraine survived a scare against a resilient and never-say-die Mozambique side to pick up their first points of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 with a 4-2 win.
After testing Brazil three days earlier, Ukraine looked set to show that potential in full flow without the obstacle of arguably the best team in the world. It took less than a minute for Oleksandr Sorokin to slot home the opener.
Ukraine hardly needed a hand in their early dominance, but Carlao provided one, playing a nightmare pass to give Mykhalio Grtystyna an easy finish. But while that control was maintained, it wasn’t capitalised on and Mozambique struck back. Dino and Carlao combined with a delightful flick, and then a nutmeg assist, for the former to bundle the ball past Ievgen Ivanyak, before Calo equalised less than a minute later.
The crowd went wild and nearly lifted the roof off when the African side almost went ahead after the break, but Ukraine went back in front through Denys Ovsiannikov. But this didn’t stop Mozambique, who were a side reborn, but Dino will have nightmares about putting wide with an open net.
A red card for Ivanyak meant backs to the wall for Ukraine as Mozambique poured forward, but Sergiy Koval slotted into the open net during a power play to decide matters. Mozambique have it all to do against Brazil in their final game in Cali, whereas a win for Ukraine against Australia will book their place in the next round.
