Spain, Argentina gain World Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines — Powerhouses Spain and Argentina played true to form and roared to the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup semifinals with emphatic victories over separate rivals Monday night at the PhilSports Arena.

Spain, the unbeaten Group B topnotcher, hammered out a 6-1 beating of Group A second seed Morocco behind the scintillating four-goal rampage of Irene Cordoba.

Group A ruler Argentina outclassed Group B runner-up Colombia, 4-1, led by Lucia Rossi’s brace.

The semifinal stage of the 16-nation meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation is set on Friday with Spain taking on the winner of the Last 8 duel between Brazil and Japan and Argentina facing either Portugal or Italy.

On their way to the semis, Cordoba carved her name in World Cup record books.

With her strikes at the 14th and 29th seconds, the Spain pivot produced the two fastest goals in the tournament and earned the distinction as the first to score twice in the opening minute.