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England 9-0 Scotland

Friday, 2 December 2016

Goalscorers
England: Cook (3), Ward, Kenny, Bettson, Sotonye, Goldstein, Medina
Scotland:

The Three Lions made a perfect start to the Home Nations Futsal Championship with a Cook inspired 9-0 win over the old enemy. A solid defensive performance set England up nicely to pick up three points from the historic encounter.

Stuart Cook was the mastermind behind the victory, giving England a 2-0 half time lead that Scotland never looked like coming back from. His first goal was a classic one on one where he jinked past his man and fired left-footed into the roof of the net.

Scotland could have taken the lead but Mark Croft saved well at the back post as Kyle Ballingall tried to turn it. It was their best opportunity as England dominated the opening 20 minutes, hitting the bar twice before Cook added his second.

England came out of the blocks in the second half and extended the lead in the 21st minute. Robbie Bettson using his pace to break down the right, playing a menacing ball across that Richard Ward slotted home.

Joseph Kenny made it 4-0 with a back post tap in after Russell Goldstein beat his man on the left and even with 13 minutes left, the game looked over as Michael Skubala brought on Jonathan Sim in goal to replace the untested Mark Croft.

Robbie Bettson became scorer with a majestic chip over Ben Tough as he went one on one with the Scottish goalkeeper. With the pressure off, England became more expressive and began to play with freedom and kept possession well, fashioning chances while Scotland only managed to break once or twice, never testing the goalkeeper.

Toluwa Sotonye finished a well worked move that Stuart Cook manufactured with good pivot play and Goldstein shot powerfully at the near post from a corner to pile on the misery for Scotland. Stuart Cook scored from 10 metres to complete his hattrick and round off a man of the match performance for England.

Raoni Medina compounded Scotland to a 9-0 defeat with a perfect counter attack orchestrated by Richard Ward and Agon Rexha.



Wales 7-1 Northern Ireland

Friday, 2 December 2016

Richard Gunney’s Wales got off to a winning start as hosts of the inaugural Home Nations Futsal Championship against a debuting Northern Ireland at the Cardiff House of Sport on Friday night.
The newcomers put up a strong fight but the patient Welsh waited for their moment and pounced for two goals in the last minute of the first half to take a commanding lead into the break. Webbe and Nelson with the quick fire double adding to Chris Hugh’s early opener.

Adam Barr of Genesis, tested Lee Jones in the Wales goal a couple of times, but he was alert and kept the Irish out, allowing Wales to stamp their authority on the game in the first half.

Wales again came out strongest in the second half and almost extended the lead as Chris Pugh broke on the counter but the finish wasn’t applied to his back post ball. He came close again with a left footed strike from 10 metres but Irvine was on his toes to palm it away.

Richard Morgan was called into action at the Welsh end, but he thwarted Northern Ireland’s best chance as they plied forward in search of their first goal. Jasir Camara looked a constant threat as pivot for the Irish, but their lack of possession nullified his obvious talent. He did manage to play through Gerson Melicio in the 25th minute, but he couldn’t control the ball and Ireland failed to find the net.

Wales secured the 4th as Rico Zulkarnain held the ball up on the right before playing a perfect ball across the goal to Danny Hooper who slotted home a simple, yet well worked goal.
Adam Barr ventured forward in a swift counter but his shot hit the post as he was through on goal just before Hugh doubled his tally to make it 5-0. It could have been game on, but it was game over with just 10 minutes to go despite both teams coming close. Chris Donnelly had a majestic chip come agonisingly close but he then went on to set up O’Hehir as his shot rebounded off Morgan and Northern Ireland had their first ever futsal goal.

Irvine made a couple of outstanding saves, but was beaten again by Elliot Thomas after an excellent turn by Zulkarnain to play in the winger for his first goal of the tournament. Jonny Nelson scored his second and Wales’ 7th with Hugh assisting from the pivot position as the captain capped off a man of the match performance.

A respectable result for the new side who will be looking to build on a solid performance as they face England on Saturday. Wales play Scotland and will fancy their chances of setting up a Sunday showdown with their rivals England, who take on Northern Ireland.


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