RIO DE JANEIRO – Substitute goalkeeper Franklin saved two penalties Sunday to help Brazil defeat two-time defending champion Spain 4-3 in a shootout to win a record fourth Futsal World Cup.
Franklin, a penalty specialist who replaced Thiago just for the shootout, stopped shots by Torras and Brazilian-born Marcelo after the two teams were locked at 2-2 in regulation and extra time. It was Brazil’s first title since 1996.
Ari missed a penalty for Brazil, but Marquinho, Wilde, Cico and Lenisio converted their shots. Spain scored in the shootout through Kike, Ortiz and Alvaro.
Brazil’s Falcao was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
The Italians edged Russia 2-1 on Saturday to finish third this year.

Unbeaten Marseille
keep up pressure on Lyon
Marseille, the only unbeaten team in the French league, swept to a 3-1 win at Valenciennes on Sunday to close the gap on champion Lyon to just one point.
Baky Kone gave Marseille the lead after just 12 minutes, nodding in from close range after Mathieu Valbuena had seen a drive come back off the crossbar.
Highly-rated international Hatem Ben Arfa made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute after dancing past his markers but Valenciennes, who had never previously lost to Marseille at home, pulled one back eight minutes later through Gregory Pujol.
Charles Kabore, however, settled Marseille nerves with a decisive third goal in the fourth minute of injury time as Eric Gerets’ side, who tackle PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday, moved to 19 points from nine matches.
On Saturday, seven-time champion Lyon needed right back Fabio Grosso to save them from a second successive league defeat by scoring the equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Lille.
Unfashionable Le Mans is third on goal difference, but three points behind Lyon, after a 2-0 win over Nancy on Sunday.
It has 17 points as does Bordeaux who beat fifth-placed Toulouse 2-1 on Saturday with Yoann Gourcuff netting the opener. It was 2-0 in front through David Bellion. Etienne Capoue grabbed a consolation goal in injury time for Toulouse. – Agencies