Courtesy:
The AFC.comAl Salmiya SC 5-3 Dordoi FCSaturday, 20 April 2013Shah Alam: Kuwaiti representative Al Salmiya pulled a stunning come-from behind 5-3 win over Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan to qualify in the Zone 1 semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 Qualifiers played on Saturday at the Panasonic Sports Complex.
With Dordoi losing their first match against Al Sadd in a group of three teams, another loss forced them out of the competition leaving Sunday’s Salmiya tie against Al Sadd a battle for finishing in the first position of Group B.
Dordoi had a brilliant spell early in the match and were on complete control in the match after notching a couple of goals within the same minute.
Salmiya goalkeeper Faisal Ghareeb was the culprit behind Dordoi’s first goal as the goalie fumbled while collecting a drive from Chingiz China and the ball landed at the back of the net in the 5th minute.
The Central Asian doubled their lead on the same minute after a good work on right from goalscorer China who released an acute pass to Sherzod Jumaev for a simple tap-in.
Like how Dordoi dominated in the first five minutes, the last five minutes of the match belonged to Al Salmiya as they scored two goals in the space of less than two minutes to go at the break with honours even.
Dordoi goalie Yura Ryzhenko was wrong footed allowing Hamzah Muhammad’s long range effort to travel inside the net in the 18th minute. One minute later, Hamzah was again in action as unmarked Abdul Rahman Alwadi tapped in his freekick to bring the score at 2-2 level.
In one of the memorable comeback in Asian futsal, Salmiya took the lead for the first time in the match after Naser Alqalaf connected a shot past Dordoi goalie Ryzhenko off Salem Almekaimi release.
Salmiya virtually ensured their win after a clever finishing of Brazilian Sidnei Mauricio who, after finding goalkeeper Ryzhenko out of his position, connected an accurate shot from Salmiya territory to make it 4-2 when the Kuwait were playing with a man less following a quick successions of yellow card to Alwadi.
“It’s very pleasing for the coach to see your team giving up everything they have despite being 2-0 behind,” ecstatic Salmiya coach Paulo Cesar told www.the-afc.com.
“They played by the heart and passion which I liked most. Now we are already through the semi-finals so we can straight away concentrate on the big occasion,” added the Brazilian.
GoalsAl Salmiya: Hamzah Muhammad 17', 35', Abdulrahman Alwadi 18', Naser Alqalaf 24', Sidnei Mauricio 34'
Dordoi FC: Chingiz China 3', Sherzod Jumaev 4', 36'
Courtesy:
The AFC.comAl Wasl SC 5-4 Naft Al WasatSaturday, 20 April 2013Shah Alam: Dubai-based Al Wasl scored three goals in last three minutes to book a ticket in the semi-finals of the Zone 2 qualifiers of the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 after defeating Iraq champions Naft Al Wasat 5-4 in a thrilling contest on Saturday at the Panasonic Sports Complex.
The Iraqis scored three second half goals to topple Al Wasl’s comfortable 2-0 lead at one stage but quick-fire three goals in last three minutes from the Emiratis dented their chances of progressing. However, the Iraqis are still not out of the competition. A big-margin victory for Al Wasl over Al Sadaka of Lebanon on Sunday will open up the Iraqis’ chances.
In contrast, Al Wasl who pulled the match in their favour from the jaws of defeat are through to the semi-finals and a draw or even a win over Al Sadaka will make them the winner of Group A.
Both the sides took cautious approach from the beginning but it was an individual brilliance from AFC Futsal Player of the Year 2012 Rafael Henmi which broke the deadlock in the 16th minute.
Henmi was again in action as he assisted Wasl second goal of the match in the 23rd minute which Abdul Karim Jamil converted. As it looked like that the Emiratis were cruising comfortably in the match, the Iraqis fight-back begun in the 24th minute after Hossein Naizi Tabar tapped in a cross from Mastafa Bachay.
Bachay continued his fine scoring run in the competition by scoring the leveller in the 26th minute with another tap in.
The Iraqis took the lead for the first time in the match in the 33rd minute after Karrar Mohsin was involved yet again in the near post to guide the ball inside Wasl net after Tabar released him from the right.
The Emiratis continued their pressure but brilliant goalkeeping in the second match in running from Naft goalie Ahmed Duraid denied them the leveller till the 37th minute when Ahmed Mahmood caught Duraid off his guard for the first time in the match during the power-play.
Wasl’s Colombian international Angellott Alexander finally found his best form by scoring a brace in a quick successions as a late goal from Farhad Tavakoli proved a mere consolation for the Iraqis.
“I knew this was coming, we were expecting a tough match after we saw them (Naft) yesterday against Al Sadaka,” Al Wasl’s Portuguese coach Rui Daniel told www.the-afc.com.
“This Iraqi side (Naft) are well coordinated and it seems they had a great preparation ahead of this competition but we had to win this match at any cost,” he added.
“Now we are already in the semis so we can take tomorrow’s match lightly and concentrate on the semis.
“I must give credit to our professional imports as they added much needed experiences in the side. The local lads also had a brilliant game against a tough opponent so overall it was a great day for UAE futsal,” he added.
GoalsAl Wasl: Angellott Alexander 38', 39', Rafael Henmi 16', Abdulkarim Jamil 23', Ahmed Mahmood 37'
Naft Al Wasat: Hossein Niazi 24', Mustafa Bachay 26', Karrar Mohsin 33', Farhad Tavakoli 40'
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Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
