Courtesy: Wales On Line


Wrexham prove shoot-out aces to lift trophy

Mar 27 2013

CARDIFF City lost 4-2 on penalties to Wrexham in the FAW Futsal Cup final, after the match finished 3-3 after extra-time.

In an entertaining day of Futsal in Cardiff’s new House of Sport2; Wrexham – a futsal-only team – lifted the trophy for the first time, despite losing their opening fixture.

In Group 1, Newtown came from behind to beat Wrexham, but it wasn’t enough for the Powys-based side to progress as they had lost 4-1 to Cardiff University in their opening fixture.

In the final game, Wrexham were facing elimination and had to win by at least two goals against a University side that boasted four Wales Internationals and they secured a 4-1 triumph to top the group and set up a semi-final with Ammanford who impressed in their first season of futsal.

The West Walians finished as Group B runners-up courtesy of a win over 2011 champions TNS, who had drawn with 2012 champions Cardiff City in the opening match. Cardiff topped the group with a win over Ammanford and their opening draw with TNS.

The semi-final between Ammanford and Wrexham was a tense affair on Court 1 and it was a solitary Ed Bryers goal two minutes from time that saw the North Walians progress.

The other semi-final was equally tense and Cardiff City’s Tyrrell Webbe was the hero with a hat-trick, including the winner in the last 40 seconds.

Fellow Welsh international Taylor Harding also scored with Elliot Thomas and Gwilym Flint Roberts netting for the Uni.

The final was an epic battle that went all the way to the shoot-out after 50 minutes of play.

Wrexham took the lead through Paul Maddison on 11 minutes as his shot beat City keeper Juan Antonio Tapia Owens after Webbe was caught on the ball.

After he hit the bar from a powerful free-kick, Dean Maynard then struck the equaliser on 16 minutes as he finished clinically after Arthur Ruminski was caught on the ball.

Maddison then scored his second after Noel Brandley made some good ground down the right, with Maddison applying the finish at the far post.

Almost immediately Tyler Mills responded for Cardiff with a well-taken goal from keeper Tapia-Owens’ assist and it went to extra-time.

City then took the lead for the first time as Liam Austin profited from a great Webbe assist in the fourth minute of extra-time.

The game should have been wrapped up by Maynard shortly after half-time, but, after rounding the keeper, he took too long to apply the finish and was tackled.

This was the turning point as seconds later Cardiff conceded their sixth foul and Chris Sheehan scored from the second penalty mark.

The match went to penalties and Elvi Drizi was the hero in the Wrexham goal with two excellent saves from Maynard and Webbe and they lifted the trophy for the first time.

Wrexham will now represent Wales in the Uefa Futsal Cup in August.






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