TICKETS
Jaws hit the floor at PhilSports Arena. Not once, not twice, but incessantly. Poland registered a staggering 50 shots against Argentina. They scored just twice.
Those statistics were indebted to a truly extraordinary performance. Trinidad D’ Andrea left the venue with the Player of the Match award, Argentina left it in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ quarter-finals, and Poles left it wondering what on earth had happened.
“It’s hard to believe what their goalkeeper did,” said an awestruck Aga Bala. “We came so close to scoring several times, but she was absolutely amazing. It was incredibly difficult to score. It was hard to believe what she did. She’s a hero.”
“She’s a machine,” raved team-mate Lara Villalba of D’ Andrea. “We know what she can bring and she stepped up 100 per cent.”
Carina Nunez added of the Argentina No1: “She’s living a dream. It’s a dream she never imagined happening this way. I know her more than most because we were playing together.
“She deserves it. She knows she has our support. We know she’s back there as our guardian in every game.”
The hero of the hour was delighted with the Player of the Match prize, but attributed it to the aid of her companions.
“I’m happy but I didn’t expect it,” she told FIFA. “Whenever I receive an individual award, I feel very happy. I feel we deserve it as a team. This is a reward for everyone’s effort.”
That endeavour helped Nicolas Noriega’s side overcome a red card for go-to performer Silvina Nava and make it back-to-back wins in the Philippines.
“It was a difficult match, physically demanding, but I never doubted that we would win,” said D’ Andrea. “To come out [for the second half] a player down made it difficult. Silvina is the best player we have, but luckily as a group, with everyone together, we were able to come through it.
“Our strength is the attack, but also the defence. I think we defended very well in the second half, and that’s what got us the victory.”
