World No. 1 Brazil and No. 3 Portugal flexed their muscles and ripped their respective opponents by five to barge into the semifinals of the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup Tuesday night at the PhilSports Arena.
Emilly, the Brazilian megastar considered the planet’s best, fired a hat trick to power the rampaging Group D topnotcher past Group C second seed Japan, 6-1, and into a livewire Last-4 duel with waiting Spain.
Lidia Moreira netted thrice, as well, as she spearheaded the Portuguese, the Group C rulers, to a 7-2 disposal of Group D runnerup Italy for a semis date with Argentina.
The titanic showdown of the last four teams standing in the showpiece backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation will explode on Friday with the victors battling for the gold on Sunday.
Emilly struck in the fourth, 11th and 39th minutes as Ana Luiza (9th), Debora Vanin (13th) and Luana (14th) joined the fray as Brazil put the quarterfinal match out of the reach of the fifth-ranked Asian champions, who only got on the board via Julia’s own goal (36th.)
The Seleção booked a semis faceoff with Group B ruler and world No. 2 Spain, which advanced with a 6-1 demolition of Group A second placer Morocco in their side of the quarterfinals last Monday.
Meanwhile, Moreira’s strikes in the sixth, 21st and 35th, Janice Silva’s brace (24th and 39th), Carolina Pedreira’s opener (fifth minute) and Kika’s closer (28th) keyed Portugal’s sinking of the No. 7 Italians.
Up ahead for the Luis Conceicao-coached Portugal are the world No. 6 Argentines, who took care of the quarterfinal business against Colombia, 4-1, last Monday.