Courtesy: FIFA.com


Aussie comeback sinks Mexico

Australia have revived their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of Thailand 2012 with a battling 3-1 win over Mexico at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium.

These sides were both under pressure to pick up points after losing their Group D openers, and it was the Futsalroos who rose to the occasion to claim a well-deserved victory.

They had to come from behind to do so, after Victor Quiroz gave Mexico a seventh-minute, drilling low into the net follow a short free-kick. However, the match turned in the space of 18 seconds midway through the second half, during which the Aussies turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

Tobia Seeto struck first on 27 minutes, firing home from an acute angle, and when a shot from the same player rebounded back off the bar moments later, Aaron Cimitile was on hand to gobble up the rebound. The Futsalroos now had the bit between their teeth and secured a memorable win when captain Greg Giovaneli scored with a rocket of a shot from outside the box with four minutes remaining.

That goal guaranteed Australia a win that takes them level with Argentina and Italy, who play in the section’s later match.

The quotes
“I was worried by the number of chances we were missing, but when you have as much ball posession as we did today, as many shots as we did, you know you'll score eventually. This is a young team, and we have won a Futsal World Cup match for the first time since 1992. That's something,"
Steven Knight, Australia coach.

“I am convinced we should have the confidence and personality to believe we can play this game, and those are things you cannot blame our lack of experience for. Nevertheless, we are new here at this tournament and we knew that this kind of outcome could happen,"
Ramon Raya, Mexico coach.





Courtesy: FIFA.com


Iran edge brave Morocco

Iran have taken another major step towards reaching the last 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Morocco at Bangkok’s Huamark Indoor Stadium. Goals from Ali Hassanzadeh and Afshin Kameni secured the points for Ali Sanei’s side, who now only need a point in their final Group B match against Panama be guaranteed a top two spot and a place in the knockout rounds.

Iran were heavy favourites to follow up their 2-2 draw over Spain with victory in this match and they certainly dominated the play, monopolising possession and attempting four efforts on target for every one of Morocco. However, the north Africans proved a tough nut to crack and, when the breakthrough finally did arrive in the last minute of the first half, it was from the penalty spot.

Ali Hassanzadeh dispatched the kick in style, sending Rabie Zaari the wrong way with a powerful right-foot shot, but his joy was to be shortlived. Iran’s lead lasted just 11 seconds, in fact, with Morocco constructing an incisive counter-attack that culminated in Youssef Al Mazray slotting home the equaliser from close range.

The second half repeated the same pattern, with determined defending and inspired goalkeeping from Zaari denying Iran the goals their territorial supremacy merited. However, the Moroccans’ resistance was eventually worn down with just under eight minutes remaining, when Afshin Kameni chipped the ball over the grounded Zaari from close range.

The quotes
“Morocco played well today, much better than the last time we played each other, and in the first half we missed too many chances. Psychologically that put our players under pressure until we scored the second goal,"
Ali Sanei, Iran coach.

“I wouldn’t say I’m happy with the way we played, but I’m satisfied – at least with some of my players’ performances. We were certainly more organised in this match than we were against Panama. We will now go into our final match against Spain looking to give the best impression of Moroccan futsal,” Hicham Dguig,
Morocco coach.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Narrow win sees Italy through

In one of the closest games at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 so far, Italy defeated Argentina 3-2 to reach the second round. This was a match between two technically gifted, well-matched sides, and ultimately resulted in Gli Azzurri reaching the Round of 16 with a narrow win.

Argentina began brightly and got their rewards with a goal in the third minute when Maximiliano Rescia saw his intial shot bounce back to him before sending a shot into the top corner. The goal spurred Italy into action and Argentina were grateful to Santiago Elias on several occasions before parity was restored when Gabriel Lima turned home a corner from close range.

Italy made it 2-1 in the 19th minute, largely thanks to some great work by Alex Merlin. He ran past a defender and his angled shot took a deflection which saw Rodolfo Fortino presented with the easiest of chances.

The second half was equally as even-contested. Argentina were pushing forward for the equaliser, while Italy looked to break on the counter attack. It was the European’s approach which brought the first goal of the half with just two minutes remaining.

Ronaldo Fortino carried the ball down the left flank, played it to Saad Assis who nutmegged the keeper which ended the game as a contest. Argentina scored in the last second through Leandro Cuzzolino’s piledriver, but it was too little, too late.

The quotes
“I’m happy that we are top of the group and have already qualified for the next round - it’s a first step. I’m also very satisfied with the performance of my players in beating Argentina, a great team. I think we saw a fantastic game today, which was great to watch for the spectators,"
Italy Coach Roberto Menichelli.

“Today, we didn’t convert our chances as well as Italy did. It was a tough match between two teams who will be both be aiming to be among the top four. I’m ok with the performance of the team, and I still believe we will advance,”
Fernando Larranaga, Argentina coach.



Courtesy: FIFA.com


On-song Spain ease past Panama

Spain have moved to the top of Group B with an emphatic 8-3 win over Panama at Bangkok’s Huamark Indoor Stadium.

This impressive result, achieved by an equally eye-catching performance, enabled the European champions to move clear of Iran on goal difference, and leave them needing just a point from their final group match against Morocco to be guaranteed one of the top two places in their section.

Spain were ultimately good value for their win but they endured a nervy start as Panama hit the post twice inside the opening minute through Miguel Lasso and Fernando Mena. The two-time world champions quickly recovered their composure though and broke the deadlock after just two minutes. Kike was the man to find the net from close range, but the goal owed more to a superb cross-court outside-of-foot pass from Miguelin to set up the shot.

There was rarely any doubt about the outcome from that moment onwards, and six minutes later Spain’s grip on the points tightened when Lin broke clear of his marker to fire into the bottom right-hand corner from a quickly taken Alemao kick-in. Panama – 8-3 winners over Morocco in their first match - simply had no answer to their opponents’ well-structured attacking play and three minutes later they were punished for slackness in their own box, with Alvaro crossing for Borja to knock the ball home.

Three became four on 14 minutes when some neat ball-juggling from Torras set up Ortiz to side-foot into the bottom corner, and though Michael De Leon pulled a goal back by lobbing the stranded Cristian, his refusal to celebrate told its own story. Spain remained utterly dominant and duly restored their four-goal cushion with the final kick of the first half, which Aicardo sent flashing through the legs of Jaime Londono from 14 yards. Borja added a sixth two minutes into the second half, finding the top corner with a precise right-foot finish, and Alemao converted a penalty five minutes later.

Not even an own goal, which went in off Alvaro from a drilled corner, could dampen the delight of a Spain team who went on to score again through Miguelin before another late consolation from De Leon.




Courtesy: FIFA.com


Italy advance as groups take shape

Monday 5 November 2012

Italy made sure of their place in the last 16 of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012 when they came from behind to beat Argentina 3-2 in an eagerly awaited duel in Group D. In this section's other game, Australia produced a fightback of their own to see off Mexico 3-1 and, in doing so, kept themselves in the hunt for a knockout place.

Elsewhere, Group B favourites Spain and Iran secured respective wins over Panama and Morocco to put themselves on the brink of qualification. The losing finalists at Brazil 2008 showed Los Canaleros no mercy in easing to an 8-3 win in the day’s final game, while the Iranians were made to sweat in eking out a 2-1 defeat of the Moroccans, who are now all but out of the tournament.

Results
Australia 3-1 Mexico
Argentina 2-3 Italy
Morocco 1-2 Iran
Spain 8-3 Panama

Goal of the day
Spain 1-0 Panama, Kike 1’44

Panama struck the woodwork twice in a frenetic opening but it was La Roja who drew first blood with a trademark goal. Following a burst of snappy, precise passes, Miguelin showed his vision by threading a ball through to Kike with the outside of his left foot, and the Spain captain kept his cool to finish off a classy team move with aplomb.

Memorable moments

We’ll support you ever more
Australia and Iran seem to have more fans than anyone in Thailand, and both sets of supporters certainly got themselves noticed on Monday, impressing the locals with their chanting and colourful attire. They did the job too, inspiring their respective teams to vital wins.

Fast and furious
There are several things that make futsal different to its 11-a-side cousin, one of them being the short space of time that sometimes separates two goals. Monday’s games produced not one but two quickfire doubles, with a mere 18 seconds ticking by between Australia’s first and second goals against the Mexicans, and only 11 seconds elapsing between Iran’s opener against Morocco and the north Africans’ equaliser.

Shout, shout, let it all out
Unhappy with the wall his outfield team-mates had formed to defend an Argentinian free-kick, Italy goalkeeper Stefano Mammarella politely asked his colleagues on two occasions if they could line themselves up a little more effectively. The custodian’s requests fell on deaf ears, prompting him to let out a deafening cry that may well have been heard all the way back in Rome and caused plenty of laughter in the stands. The ultra-focused Mammarella got his point across, however, and ensured Italy came away with three of their own by making several vital stops.

Stat of the day
20 - The number of years since Australia last won a FIFA Futsal World Cup match. Prior to beating the Mexicans in Thailand on Monday, the Futsalroos had gone ten straight games without a win at the world finals, their most recent previous victory coming against Costa Rica at Hong Kong 1992.

The words
“We should have the confidence and personality to believe we can play this game. Those are things you cannot blame our lack of experience for,”
Ramon Raya, Mexico coach.

Next up
Tuesday 6 November (all times local)

Group E
Kuwait-Serbia (19.00)
Egypt-Czech Republic (21.00)

Group F
Colombia-Solomon Islands (17.00)
Russia-Guatemala (19.00)






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com