Courtesy: Nouse York University




Controversial late penalty leaves Futsal team heartbroken

November 19, 2009

by David Ambrozejczyk

The University Of York Futsal Club were cruelly denied what would have been a historic qualification to the FA National League, the elite level of Futsal in the UK, by a controversial penalty awarded to Liverpool Futsal Club with a matter of seconds left to play in the deciding game.

In a day that was always going to produce high drama, York travelled to Sheffield in the knowledge that they were four games away from joining University sporting giants Bath, Loughborough and UWE Hartpury, as well as the top non-student teams, at the top level of the game in the country.

York began their day against a strong Oldham Athletic team boasting England Internationals and two Portuguese Futsal specialists in their ranks. York, including three debutants in a much changed side to the BUCS Finals team of last year, settled down quickly and dominated the early stages of the first-half, keeping possession well and forcing the Oldham goalkeeper into two smart saves in succession. Despite early dominance, Oldham broke the tie half way through the first-half – a driven ball from the right-wing found its way to the front post, allowing Oldham to flick the ball home from point blank range.

Oldham increased their lead almost immediately after the restart – timid defending allowed the North-West club to prise open the York backline with ease and they made no mistake in slotting home, much to the despair of York bench. York, switching to a direct brand of Futsal in the hope of getting back into the game, found success through a penalty from debutant Dan York, giving the White Rose a consolation goal.

With a win needed to stay on course, Albert Park were next up. With players from the Teesside University team that defeated York in the BUCS Trophy Final last year at the opposite end, York looked to notch a moral victory over their old rivals.

With the extra importance of the close rivalry, York began to control every aspect of the game during the first-half. Udy Onwudike was a constant threat in the opposition area, expertly utilising the pivot role to create countless chances for York – denied only by desperate Albert Park defence. The York onslaught finally found success through Dom Henney, who powered his shot into the top right corner after slick some one-touch passing.

The hard work of Onwudike was rewarded just before the half-time break when, with his back to goal, he imparted the slightest of touches to divert a long ball into the net to give York a comfortable advantage. With York controlling the game and with Albert Park only capable of sporadic attacks, York were gifted a third through an own goal and with it a deserved three points.

Liverpool were quietly touted as favourites before the play-off and with from two wins from two games, York needed to be sharp to cope with their free scoring front line. Forced to defend deep as means of trying to repress a creative Liverpool side, York found it difficult to get forward at all – the constant pressure eventually broke through, with Liverpool expertly converting a two-on-one overlap to take a deserved lead.

York then hit back almost immediately, perhaps undeservedly against the general run of play.
The nature of the equaliser, however, was without doubt deserved. In a moment of individual brilliance, Ali Laird, playing as a second striker, picked the ball just inside the Liverpool half on the left-wing before brushing aside two defenders and curving a fabulous strike into the top right hand corner, leaving the Liverpool keeper helpless. With half-time looming, a lapse in York concentration gave Liverpool space on the left to pick a ball out to the back post which they duly converted, taking valuable momentum into the break.

Liverpool dominated early play in the second-half, hitting the woodwork three times in quick succession, again pinning York back. With the continuous onslaught, Captain Jack Crane switched York to play with five outfielders as means of getting back into the game. In what was to prove to be the defining decision in the match as the tactical switch yielded a goal for York, and it was Laird who again was quickest onto a mistake in the Liverpool ranks, rounding the keeper to tap home a simple goal. Buoyed by the change in fortune, Udy Onwudike and Dan York were sent on, giving York two big targets to aim for with the clock reading under two minutes.

With under a minute to go, a long David Ambrozejczyk throw was not dealt with by Liverpool, with the resultant fumble falling to Dan York, who finished easily to complete a stunning victory and send York into rapture.

With the defeat of Liverpool, York now needed a strong result against East Coast in their final game to give themselves the best possible chance of qualification. With East Coast at the bottom of the standings and only pride to play for, any complacency from York could carry a large price. The White Rose produced a dominant display, gifted yet another own goal within two minutes of the first whistle. A rout looked on the cards when Patrik Khosravi split the defence with an exquisite outside of the foot pass to allowing York to convert with a cool finish. York should have scored more, but were only kept at bay a man-of-the-match of performance by the East Coast goalkeeper.

Three wins from four and everything pointed to York qualification, with Oldham against Liverpool in the deciding game. An Oldham win or draw, or a two goal or more victory for Liverpool would see York through.
In what was the closest game of the day, Oldham grasped the advantage just before the half-time whistle, before Liverpool equalised with five minutes to play in the second half, after hitting the woodwork half a dozen times.

As York watched in the stands, the final seconds counting down in front of them, Liverpool were gifted the most controversial of penalties. With the game at an impasse, Oldham broke with a two on one against the Liverpool goalkeeper. With the keeper dragging the Oldham striker back in the first instance, the striker raised his arm to break free – deemed by the referee to be aggressive – the first decision was ignored and a foul awarded against Oldham – tipping the foul count to four and gifting Liverpool a penalty. Liverpool’s Freddie Myers converted and gave Liverpool a one goal victory, the only result that could send York out.

Despite coming within seconds of victory, York now undoubtedly have the confidence to make a strong run at BUCS glory, which they got the taste for last year on their first ever qualification to the BUCS Nationals. With the second round of qualifiers coming to York on December 6th, both the first and second teams will be looking to top the groups going into the New Year.

York Squad: David Ambrozejczyk (GK), Adam Leadbeater, Dan York, Ali Laird, Jack Crane (C), Dom Henney, Patrik Khosravi, Matthew Stopforth, Dom Petschak, Udy Onwudike






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