Tahiti will head home from the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup without a win from Group C after falling 8-3 to world number four ranked in their final match in the Seychelles.

It followed earlier 7-6 and 6-3 defeats by Chile and Senegal respectively.

The African champions defeated Chile 7-3 to top the Group and qualify for the quarter finals along with Spain who finish runner up.

Tahiti went into the match knowing a win by three goals or more would secure a place in the quarter finals on goal difference over Spain. But it was always going to be a tall order.

The Tiki Toa who have been in two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals, (2015 and 2017) began brightly however, and created several good goal scoring chances in the opening period but couldn’t break the deadlock. Instead from a penalty Spain opened the scoring with a minute 20 remaining in the opening period with Ramy Sagdanhi beating the diving Jonathan Torohia in the Tiki Toa goal.

Roonui Tinirauarii headed just wide of the Spain goal early in the second period. But Tahiti had Heimanu Taiarui sent off for a physical challenge midway through the period and while down a player, the Spaniards doubled their lead through David Ardil. When Solieman Batis scored a brilliant individual goal a minute later, Teva Zaveroni’s side looked dead and buried.

But a penalty from Tinirauarii and an own goal closed the gap to one as Tahiti fought back. Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived however with the Spanish scoring twice in 17 seconds to take a three-goal lead into the final period.

They extended their lead with Sagdanhi and Batis adding to their goal scoring tallies with Heirauarii Salem scoring a late consolation goal for the Tiki Toa.

The quarter finals will see Belarus take on Iran, Portugal meet Japan, Senegal face Italy and defending champions Brazil taking on Spain.

Tahiti: 3 (Roonui TINIRAUARII 04’19”/2P, OG 03’54” /2P Heirauarii SALEM 00’16” /3P)
Spain:  8 (Ramy SAGDANHI 01’20” /1P 09’45”/3P, David ARDIL 05’50”/2P Solieman BATIS 04’46”/2P, 07’51” /3P, JUANMI 03’45” /2P, CHIKY 03’28”, /2P Roberto GALINDO 00’31” /3P

Photo by Alex Grimm – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images