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The AFC.comThais on top after opening dayFriday, 02 November 2012Bangkok: Thailand took the early initiative in Group A of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup after defeating Costa Rica 3-1 at the Huamark Indoor Stadium on Thursday.
Suphawut Thueanklang set up Keattiyot Chalaemkhet for the opened in the 18th minute before Suphawut, who struck seven times as Thailand finished runners-up to Japan at the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship in the UAE, went from provider to scorer nine minutes after the interval.
The CONCACAF champions reduced the deficit in the 36th minute but any hopes of a Costa Rica comeback all but ended a minute later when Jirawat Sornwichiwan sealed the 3-1 win which put the tournament hosts at the top of the table after Ukraine and Paraguay played out a 3-3 draw in the earlier Group A fixture.
"I'm very happy and proud of my team, and of the performance we showed," said Thailand's victorious coach Victor Hermans.
"I hope this win gives all the Thai people a boost and encourages them to come to our next match to support us from the stands. Futsal has a future in Thailand and maybe the fans can become the sixth player on the pitch."
Meanwhile, Hermans' counterpart Diego Solis singled out Thai star Suphawut for his influential role but the Costa Rica coach also contended that his side was the architects of their own downfall.
"We believe that the number nine of Thailand is a very good player but we also have to admit that we made too many mistakes in the game, and that's what cost us the three points."
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The AFC.comRodrigo: loss of concentration cost usFriday, 02 November 2012Nakhon Ratchasima: Japan coach Miguel Rodrigo was left lamenting a brief spell when the Asian champions lost focus that led to a 4-1 defeat to holders Brazil in their 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup opening match on Thursday.
Brazil dominated the opening period but a combination of resolute defending and an impressive display from keeper Hisamitsu Kawahara restricted the world champions to Wilde's 14th minute goal, which came via a deflection from Karou Morioka.
Neto capitalised on some slackness in the Japanese defence to double Brazil's lead one minute into the second half before Wilde made it 3-0 two minutes later after receiving the ball from a grounded Ari.
Brazil were in complete control of the contest at this stage and completed the passage of three goals in less than five minutes when Vinicius scored number four in the 24th minute but it was Japan who would have the final say three minutes later through a sublime Kotaro Inaba strike which proved to be a mere consolation for the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship winners.
"Today we lost concentration for two or three minutes and you obviously can't do that against a team like Brazil," rued Rodrigo.
"Last week we played 40 concentrated minutes against Brazil in a friendly (drawing 3-3), while today we only played well for 37 minutes - and the three minutes gave Brazil the edge."
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The AFC.comImperious Italians too strong for FutsalroosSaturday, 03 November 2012Bangkok: Italy showed just why they are regarded as one of the favourites to claim the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup by outplaying the Futsalroos with a comprehensive 9-1 victory in their opening Group D match at Nimibutr Stadium.
Even though they were second best on the evening the Futsalroos can still progress from the group stages if they can raise their game for the matches against Mexico and Argentina to come and there were intermittent signs, brief though they may have been, that there is much more to come from this Australian outfit.
The Futsalroos actually started the brighter of the two sides and had a couple of half-chances in the opening minute as Fernando De Moraes fired just over with a shot on the turn before Captain Greg Giovenali sent a free-kick wide of the Italian goal. Chances thereafter though were sporadic at best for the Futsalroos with Fernando going close towards the end of the first half but, in truth, it was Italy who made most of the headway.
The Italians really should have taken the lead in the third minute as a slick move drew Peter Spathis in the Futsalroos goal and left Alex Merlim with an open net. However, under pressure from the retreating Fernando, Merlim somehow managed to hit both posts from three metres out. Shortly after Saad Assis fizzed a shot at goal that Spathis pushed to safety and Gabriel Lima volleyed wide as the pressure intensified.
Rodolfo Fortino should have done much better than sweep a shot against the post with only Spathis to beat in the 10th minute, but he made amends four minutes later as Italy finally made the breakthrough they had been threatening. A passing move tore the Futsalroos open and Fortino crashed a shot into the top corner of the net from just outside the penalty area.
Seconds later the Azzuri doubled their lead as the Futsalroos were made to pay for losing possession in the centre of the court and Jairo Dos Santos fed Assis who blasted home. And two become three in the 17th minute as another rapid Italian counter allowed Lima the time and space to slide a shot through the legs of Spathis.
The Futsalroos tried hard to get back into the contest but was caught on the break again moments before the half-time hooter as a long throw from goalkeeper Stefano Mammarella found Italy skipper Marcio Forte unmarked and he stretched to toe the ball past Spathis and give the Europeans a comfortable 4-0 half-time lead.
There was no let-up for the boys in green and gold in the second stanza either as Italy ruthlessly exposed a mistake by teeing up Sergio Romano who gleefully clipped the ball over Spathis and into the net for goal number five only 57 seconds after the re-start. Assis was next on target as he outlined his World class credentials with a stunning first-time strike from a well-worked corner routine.
Fernando continued to look most likely for the Futsalroos, seeing a snap-shot deflect wide of goal, But Italy posed much the greater goal threat and were brilliant in their execution every time the ball was turned over. Fortino was wreaking havoc and his pass allowed Humberto Honorio to get in on the act in the 26th minute as another devastating attack ended with a goal before Giuseppe Mentasti added the eighth and Merlim made up for his first half howler by slotting in for 9-0 with just under ten minutes to play.
The Futsalroos had their reward for persistence seven minutes from time when they opened their goal account at the tournament with a splendidly crafted strike. Giovenali was the architect spotting a run from Danny Ngaluafe behind the Italian defence and chipping a delightful pass into the path of the flying forward. Ngaluafe still had much to do but picked his spot and thumped a first time drive low beyond the reach of Mammarella much to the delight of the majority of the crowd.
And, much to their credit, the Futsalroos dug deep to hold Italy out for the remainder of the match with goalkeeper Spathis making several heroic saves. The Italians though were worthy winners in the end.
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The AFC.comIran rally to hold SpainSaturday, 03 November 2012Bangkok: Asian futsal powerhouse Iran came from two goals down to hold two-time world champions Spain to a 2-2 draw in their 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup Group B opener on Saturday.
Iran, who missed out on an 11th continental title in 12 tournaments after finishing third at the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship in the UAE, were a goal down early in the match at the Huamark Indoor Stadium when Miguelin opened the scoring after four minutes before Lozano doubled Spain's advantage on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.
But Iran fought back through two goals in a three-minute spell through Masoud Daneshvar (27th) and Hossein Tayebi (30th) to give the ten-time Asian champions a share of the spoils with a result that head coach Ali Sanei felt was an accurate reflection of the game.
"During half-time, I asked my players to simply go out and play their attacking game, and so they did. At the end, I believe the result is perfect for the match," said the 39-year-old.
Iran are next in action on Monday when they take on Morocco, who surrendered a 3-1 half-time lead to lose 8-3 to Panama in their Group B opener.
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The AFC.comKuwait unable to complete Czech comebackSunday, 04 November 2012Bangkok: Two goals in the final three minutes were not enough for Kuwait to salvage a point from their opening match in the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup on Saturday as Luis Fonseca's side went down 3-2 to Group E rivals Czech Republic.
Marek Kopecky's fifth-minute strike gave the Czech's a 1-0 lead to take into the break before further goals from Michal Belej (22nd) and Tomas Koudelka (34th) looked to have sealed the three points for the Europeans.
But there was to be late drama at the Huamark Indoor Stadium with Hamad Al Awadhi reducing the deficit in the 37th minute before Abdulrahman Al Tawail brought the Kuwaitis to within one, two minutes later.
But it was to be too little too wait for the Gulf side and the more experienced Czech's held on for victory.
"I thought that Kuwait were the better of the two teams, but the Czechs succeeded because their players are more experienced," assessed Fonseca
"All of their goals came from our mistakes. But I am happy with the attitude and work-rate of my players, and we will go into our next match against Serbia with the same mentality."
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luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
