In a stunning turn of events at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan, the Venezuelan team eliminated the two-time world champions Spain with a final score of 2-1. The match featured a remarkable goal by goalkeeper José Villalobos in the first half, followed by a late strike from Víctor Carreño, sealing Spain's exit from the tournament.
The first goal came just seven minutes before halftime when Villalobos executed a long pass to Kevin Briceno. Spanish goalkeeper Jesús Herrero misjudged the play, allowing the ball to sail over him and into the net, giving Venezuela a 1-0 lead. Despite Spain's protests for a foul, replays confirmed it was an error on Herrero’s part.
Spain, known for its prowess in futsal, struggled to contain Venezuela's offensive efforts. Raúl Gómez equalized for Spain early in the second half, but the match took another twist when Carlos Sanz scored from long range in the dying moments, securing victory for Venezuela.
This defeat marks a significant blow to Spain's futsal legacy, having previously won two World Cups and finishing as runners-up three times. Their elimination continues a troubling trend, as they have now failed to reach the semifinals in three consecutive tournaments.