A 2-0 win over Vietnam saw Italy progress to the knockout stages of FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016 with a perfect record, with the debutants going through in third place
Italy played with the comfort of already having a place in the next round, but with dropping to second certainly possible, it perhaps took Vietnam rattling the bar to get them in shape. Captain Gabriel Lima ensured that they earned some early security by rifling home the opener.
Italy were giving the fleet-footed Vietnamese side no room to breathe as they pressed high and snuffed out resulting counter-attacks quickly and efficiently. While their elegance in managing the game was striking – moving as an Azzurri wave across the blue court, Vietnam did find opportunities to threaten.
The closest of which coming when Duc Hoa Pham showed great strength to shake off his marker before rattling Stefano Mammarella’s upright. But with their eyes looking forward they were undone at back, when a quick Luca Leggiero corner catches Vietnam half asleep and Murilo Ferreira slotted them fully in control.
It would have been more were it not for the impressive showing from Vietnam goalkeeper Dinh Thuan Ngo. Italy will now face one of the third-placed finishers when they return to Cali, while Vietnam must wait to see where they end up.
