Courtesy: FAI.ie


Irish futsal team to test their skill against experienced Kazakhstan side tonight

Sunday, 22 February 2009

Following a spectacular victory over England on Friday, Ireland now lie joint second with Cyprus in Group A of the UEFA Futsal Championship. Kazakhstan lead the group with two wins from two games.

The outcome of the qualification deciders will be known tonight (22/02/09) when Ireland encounter a well fancied Kazakhstan side while Cyprus hope for a second win when they take on England in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

At almost 32, Thomas Morgan is the oldest player on the Irish squad and has been an inspiration to the younger members of the team on the futsal pitch.

To date he has picked up five senior caps following two appearances against Hungary in November and three caps in the Loughborough tournament last December, and is one of the more experienced players in the side. He gives his views on tonight’s game.

“We never actually played Kazakhstan before but we’ve heard that they are rated as the best team in the group. Kazakhstan are considered to be technically very good, with fast movement and a quick pace.”

The Irish side put in a great performance against England when beating them 2 – 0. The boys showed grit and determination with some exemplary displays of defending and attacking. Commenting on Ireland’s strengths, Morgan said, “We’ve some really skilful players on our side, we’re a young side and since coming together as the Senior team we’ve all gelled really quickly and as a team and we’re keen to put in a good performance against Kazakhstan.”

Kazakhstan are seen as the team to beat in group A and looking ahead to Ireland’s final game of the qualifying rounds. Despite facing a team with more experience under their belt, the Irish attitude remains positive and upbeat and Morgan believes they’re in with a chance, “We’ve done our homework and are well prepared. We’re going to try to win this game just like we try to win every game. At the end of the day it’s five against five. We respect them but we don’t fear them.”



Courtesy: FAI.ie


Kazakhstan qualify as valiant Irish suffer defeat

Sunday, 22 February 2009

Republic of Ireland 0-5 Kazakhstan

Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualification to the next round of the UEFA Futsal Championships were dashed by a formidable Kazakhstan side in front of a full house at the National Basketball Arena this evening (22/02/09).

Despite a brave display by the Irish, Kazakhstan were the better side scoring five goals. The first half of the game saw much of the play in Ireland’s half as a very quick Kazakhstan, showing their obvious experience, made some strong advances on the Irish goal.

Despite Ireland’s best efforts to defend, a free kick to Kazakhstan with eleven minutes to go saw number 6, Yessenamanov, put the ball in the top right hand corner of the Irish net. A minute and a half later and Kazakhstan were 2-0 up when Suleimenov defied keeper Perkins with a great shot.

The second half opened with some good tactical play from a confident Kazakhstan side, putting three more goals on the scoreboard. Man of the match, Nurgozhin, punished the Irish seeing an opportunity to score when he made a darting run past Perkins as he came out of his goal. The remaining two goals came within the last five minutes of play.

Despite the scoreline, Ireland showed moments of flair, particularly in the second half, but luck was not on their side as they failed to connect with the back of the Kazakhstan net.

Kazakhstan qualify top of group A comfortably winning three out of three games. Earlier today, England put in a magnificent performance against Cyprus beating them 4-2. England will be hoping that their overall performance will be good enough to see them through to the next round as best runner-up in the group stages.

Derek O’Neill, Ireland Futsal manager said, “We learnt a lesson from a class act tonight. It is very evident that Kazakhstan have the experience of competing in two World Cups and have a national futsal league in place for the past twenty years. By this token they are ahead of us in their development of this sport. Overall I was happy with the application of the Irish players. We will use this experience to make us stronger for future games.”

REP OF IRELAND: John Perkins (Sporting Fingal Futsal), Mark Langtry (Unattached), Philip McDonagh (Drumcondra FC), Ian Byrne (Sporting Fingal Futsal), Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers), Dane Massey (Bray Wanderers), Thomas Morgan (Sporting Fingal Futsal), Lloyd Massey (Shamrock Rovers), Alan Lynch (Unattached), Craig Duggan (Cork City), Brendan Dawson (Sporting Fingal Futsal), Tony Kane (Sherrif YC).

KAZAKHSTAN: Khalyavin, Pershin, Nurgozhin, Terentyev, Yessenamanov, Suleimenov, Zhamankulov, Pengrin, Khloponin, Dovgan, Shamro, Konomenko, Alzhaxin.

REFEREE: Gabor Kovacs (HUN)








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