Derry City 5 St Patrick’s Athletic 7

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC will get the chance to defend their FAI National Futsal League crown after winning the first semi-final of the 2009 event at the Basketball Arena today.

The holders held on against a spirited Candystripes side to progress to the deciding tie.

The Saints got off to an excellent start with Brazilian star Hygo Cezar opening the scoring less than four minutes in.

Derry showed great fighting spirit to get back into the tie with captain David Shovlin producing a brilliant chipped finish after keeper Vinicius had saved from Darren Harkin.

Harkin’s battling qualities then saw him bundle home a second goal for the Candystripes seven minutes into the game. Robbing Jackson Alexandre and poking past Vincius.

After a period of sustained pressure the Saints finally drew level just under four minutes before the break with Cezar once again finding the net with a neat finish.

Just 30 seconds later Yuri Assis broke and fired into the roof of the Derry net to put St Pat’s back in front. It was 3-2 to the Saints at the break.

Shovlin drew City level direct from a free-kick just one minute into the second half but the Candystripes quickly conceded again through Felipe Machado.

St Pats then extended their lead when captain Jackson Alexandre shot home then Derry suffered a blow when captain Shovlin was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Denis Nicolai increased the Saints’ lead before Seanan McColgan replied but once again the Dublin side went down the far end and scored again through Nicolai to make it 7-4.

Ger McClintock pulled one back for City in the last minute but it was too little too late and the Saints progressed to the final.




Wexford Youths 3 Cork City 6

CORK CITY battled back from a dreadful start to cause a major upset and seal their qualification for the FAI National Futsal League Final at the expense of Wexford Youths at the Basketball Arena today.

Liam Murphy’s side showed great discipline and determination to fight back from 3-1 down to seal their place in the final for the first time.

Wexford - who featured many of the players who won the title with St Patrick's Athletic last season - got a dream start when Marcin Fornal scored from an acute angle after just 40 seconds.

It was 2-0 after less than two minutes as Wojiech Korzan tapped home from close range after a quick counter. 30 seconds later Maciej Lewandowski hit the post with a low drive as the onslaught continued.

City eventually settled down and Wexford keeper Barry Lindsay had denied them a couple of times before Donal Lynch finally found the net with seven minutes left in the half to bring it back to 2-1.

Surprisingly there wasn’t another goal in the opening half, although both sides had chances to find the net.

After Cork wasted two excellent chances to equalise, they paid the price when Arthur Opeldus scored after a one-two with John O’Donoghue to make it 3-1 five minutes into the second half.

Wexford had a let off when City won a ten-metre penalty and stand-in keeper Marcin Fornal saved from Ian Turner then kept out the rebound from Eoin Forde.

But Cork did pull one back when Craig Duggan’s low strike squirmed under Fornal’s body to make it 3-2 with just over five minutes left.

City then received a tremendous boost when Turner broke through and smashed the ball past Barry Lindsay, who had returned to goal for Youths, and levelled the game.

With every foul now resulting in a ten-metre penalty, every robust challenge was a threat and City got the chance to go in front for the first time from such a chance. Turner converting this time.

Cork had the bit between their teeth now and Wesley Tong made a brilliant break to put City 5-3 in front.

Duggan then extended that lead to 6-3 when Duggan made a stunning burst and fired home from long range with 90 seconds remaining.








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