Tahiti fall short in World Cup
Tahiti lost 5-2 to Italy in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup quarter final in UAE.
A couple of late Italy goals made the tie look more one-sided than it actually was for Teva Zaveroni and his players.
On their way to the quarter finals Tahiti put four past Argentina in an opening 4-3 win, before staging a comeback against Spain and losing 5-3 to Iran in the final group stage game to finish runner up.
In the quarter final against Italy it was the Tiki Toa who took the lead in the tie, with two quick goals after only three minutes of play.
Tamatoa Tetauira scored the first one, before Heimanu Taiarui added another for the Melanesian side just 35 seconds later.
Tahiti looked like they would hold the lead in to the first of three breaks, but a wonder goal from Marco Giordiani from his own half in the dying seconds of the first period gave Italy hope.
In the second period Giordani popped up again to equal the scoring.
And in the third period Italy once again pounced on Tahiti when they saw an opportunity.
Six minutes into the period and Luca Bertacca put the Europeans ahead, before two late goals from Josep Junior Gentilin and Alessandro Remedi sealed the deal for Italy.
Italy now goes on to face Belarus in the semi final, while Brazil and Iran, who were group winners in Tahiti’s group, play in the second semi. The final will be played on Sunday 25th of February.
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