Tahiti have missed out on a spot in the quarter finals of the Beach Soccer World Cup despite beating Uruguay 6-4 in their final group match.
The Tiki Toa, which finished runners-up at the last two World Cups, needed to win by three or more goals in Luque, Paraguay, to leapfrog the South Americans into second place in Group B, but conceded a goal three minutes from time to deny them a fourth consecutive trip to the knockout rounds.
Tahiti missed out on the knockout rounds at the Beach Soccer World Cup. Photo: FIFA/Twitter
Ariihau Teriitau opened the scoring for the Oceania champions three minutes into the first period before Nicolas Bella responded for Uruguay, which won their opening two group matches.
Patrick Tepa, Alvin Tehau, Tearii Labaste and Heimanu Taiarui also found the back of the net as Tahiti opened up a 5-1 lead early in the third and final period of the match.
But captain Gaston Laduche gave Uruguay a lifeline in the 27th minute before Marcelo Capurro reduced the deficit to two goals with seven minutes to play.
Tepa restored Tahiti's three-goal buffer seconds later but Nicolas Bella proved the hero for Uruguay, scoring his second goal of the match with three minutes remaining to send the South Americans through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009, when they finished fourth overall.
Uruguay will face Group A winners Japan in the next round, while Group B winners Italy, who thrashed Tahiti 12-4 in their opening match last week, will face Switzerland, who are coached by former Tiki Toa mentor Angelo Schirinzi.