Courtesy: englandfutsal.com

Baku on the double with Futsal Cup title

by Billy Taylor

Baku United retained the FA Futsal Cup for a second successive year following their 3-0 victory against last year’s finalists Manchester Futsal Club in an enthralling day of futsal action at The Copper Box Arena.

Both teams started brightly with Agon Rexha and Jose Lozano going very close for Baku and Sam Richardson being well denied by James Dalton when faced with a one-on-one situation.

It was the reigning champions who drew first blood in the fourth minute when the FA Cup’s top scorer Lozano fired into the top corner from inside the box, but Manchester fought back immediately when Ilya Ovechkin rattled the crossbar following a good spell of possession.

Jesus Hurtado was on hand to double the lead after he stole possession from the often reliable Stuart Cook and toe poked his effort past Jordan Parker from the edge of the box. Despite making plenty of saves in the first half, Parker was beaten for a third time when Lozano hit a first-time rocket following Jonathan Camera’s corner in the 16th minute to make the score line read 3-0.

The second half began brightly for Baku as they narrowly missed an opportunity to extend their lead to four goals. Hurtado dispossessed Ovechkin and fed Camera with an accurate pass but the former Riberra Navarra attacker hit his effort against the post.

The finalists continued to exchange blows. Lozano’s half volley was well stopped by Parker and Cook forced a save from Dalton when he stormed into the Baku half and fired on target. In the 33rd minute, Parker was on hand again to deny England international Doug Reed and Manchester captain Cook was stopped for the umpteenth time in the match when Baku’s number one improvised a block with his shoulder to keep the ball out.

Despite retaining more possession and dominating the play in the closing stages of the match, Manchester were unable to find a way past the well-drilled Baku defence. Their best chance of the half came when Cook found Richardson close to goal but the latter’s strike went agonisingly over the crossbar.

Following Baku’s win, coach Chema Jiminez said ‘I feel very happy for my players. Teams like Manchester have a good squad with young players and the same goes for Genesis. We’ve played five matches in two days and it’s been very difficult but I’d like to congratulate the FA for their organisation [over the weekend].

‘But now it’s time to forget about everything and be very happy with our win’.

Earlier in the day, Manchester recorded a convincing 5-2 win against Genesis in the first men’s semi-final. Captain Stuart Cook played a pivotal part in getting the North Division champions up and running when his cheeky rabona flick set up Ben Woong for an easy tap-in in the first minute.

Sam Richardson and Ilya Ovechkin were on hand to give Manchester a three goal lead before Genesis struck back through Daniel Cheema 60 seconds before half-time in scrappy fashion.

Jordan Parker was instrumental in the net for Manchester saving almost any effort that came in his direction, but he could do nothing to prevent Germano Indanhe’s deflected free-kick from creeping into the net to make the score 3-2.

But Chris Vernon’s side remained strong in the final moments of the game and scored twice more thanks to efforts from youngsters Danny Stapleton and Jordan Edge.

In the second semi-final, Champions Baku were 4-1 victors against Helvecia – a score line that was harsh towards the five-time Super League winners who competed valiantly for the entirety of the match.

The deadlock was predictably broken by Lozano who connected strongly with Roberto Tobe’s pass and the slender lead was doubled a minute later by captain Agon Rexha, capitalising on a half-hearted clearance by Mario Gazzoli.

Both teams were technically brilliant throughout the first half with neither side able to create a clear goal scoring opportunity. The next goal seemed crucial and it was Scott Shulton who scored it to half Helvecia’s deficit. Shulton, who returned to the side after picking up an injury in the group stages, reacted quickest to volley in Miguel Mota’s blocked free kick from close range.

The second half continued in similar fashion with few opportunities and with time running out, Helvecia deployed Joao Mirabile as a fly goalkeeper. The move didn’t pay dividends however as Jonathan Camera made the score line 3-1 following his run from the halfway line and Kenedy Ofong rounded off the game when he had space and time to coolly strike past Mirabile with three minutes remaining.






FP Staff --> info@futsalplanet.com