Courtesy: Welsh FA Website


Wales off to perfect start in Futsal Home Nations Championship

2 December 2016

Wales got their Futsal Home Nations Championship off to a perfect start with a 7-1 victory over Northern Ireland.

In front of a large crowd at Cardiff’s House of Sport, the hosts got off to a fast start as captain Chris Hugh saw his left-foot strike come back off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.

But they had goalkeeper Lee Jones to thank at the other end as he made four good saves in quick succession, while Chris Donnelly also saw a powerful volley come back off the post.

And two goals in the final minute of the first half from Tyrelle Webbe and Jonny Nelson put Wales firmly in control heading into the second period.

With the visitors pushing men forward in search of a way back into the game, Wales soon extended their lead as Rico Zulkarnain set up Danny Hooper to make it four, before Hugh scored his second of the night with another spectacular left-footed effort.

Despite trailing 5-0, Northern Ireland kept pushing forward and Donnelly was again denied by the woodwork as his deft lob clipped the crossbar.

They did, however, pull one back when Michael O’Hehir finished well inside the box, but two late goals from Elliot Thomas and a second for Jonny Nelson meant that Wales got their tournament off to the best possible start.

Meanwhile, in the day’s earlier game, England hit nine without reply as they beat Scotland 9-0.

Despite an even first half, England found themselves two goals up at the interval thanks to a fine brace from Stuart Cook.

But in the second half they exerted their dominance as Cook grabbed his hat-trick, adding to goals from Richard Ward, Joseph Kenny, Robert Bettson, Toluwa Sotonye, Russell Goldstein and Raoni Medina.



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