Tahiti booked their place in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 semi-finals with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Paraguay.
Portugal 2015 adidas Golden Glove winner Jonathan Torohia opened the scoring for Tahiti with a volley from distance that flew into the top corner. Tahiti captain Naea Bennett then doubled their lead when he finished off a wonderfully-worked team move.
Torohia then had a moment to forget early in the second period when a throw from Paraguay goalkeeper Ivan Fernandez eventually trickled through his legs. 2015 top scorer Pedro Moran then found Paraguay’s equaliser when he headed in from close range.
Tahiti retook the lead just over a minute later from Heimanu Taiarui’s stellar overhead kick. However, Moran scored another equaliser, and his fifth of the tournament, with a long-distance free-kick that he guided into the top corner.
Tearii Labaste scored the decisive goal early in the third period with a brilliant overhead kick before Heiarii Tavanae and Patrick Tepa sealed Tahiti’s progression to a third consecutive Beach Soccer World Cup semi-finals with two goals in the last 20 seconds.
Story courtesy of FIFA. For more on the world game visit www.fifa.com