Courtesy: Shamrock Rovers Official Web Site


Rovers suffer Futsal heart-break

Monday, 08 March 2010

SHAMROCK ROVERS crashed out of the FAI Futsal Cup at the quarter-final stage after a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out loss to Bray/St Joseph’s on Saturday.

The game was a repeat of the Emerald Futsal League final of last year but this time it was Bray who went home smiling following a dramatic 4-4 draw at the BRL Umbro Arena in Ballymun.

Rovers started well with Ian Byrne scoring midway through the first half after a corner-kick routine came off.

Unfortunately the Hoops failed to hold out until the break at Bray levelled through Dane Massey.

The tide turned in Bray’s favour when Nicky Byrne put them in front early in the second half with a low strike.

Brilliant play by Moroccan ace Badr Bouznig to bag two goals in quick succession gave the Hoops the lead – the second a stunning volley Marco Van Basten would have been proud of.

Once again Bray responded with Ross Zambra finishing off a lightening counter-attack to make it 3-3.

With two minutes left Rovers looked to have snatched it when Bouznig combined with Brendan Dawson to finish from close range.

Just when it seemed that semi-final place had been secured, Rovers were caught by another sucker punch when Kelly bundled home to send it to spot-kicks with another leveller 20 seconds from time.

In the shoot-out Bray were far superior and went through to meet Sporting Fingal in the last four. Out of four penalties, Hiago Freitas was the only Rovers man to convert while Bray struck three.

"It was galling to go out the way we did. We created so many chances early on but didn't take them then just when we had looked like we were in control we conceded a sloppy equaliser with just 20 seconds left on the clock," said manager Stephen Finn.

"The lads put so much effort into this campaign and when I looked at how the semi-finals went on Sunday I just felt more frustrated as I knew we were as good as the two sides that won through.

"We'll regroup now ahead of the Emerald Futsal League and have a couple of fund-raisers that we'll be organising to help raise some funds for this section."

SHAMROCK ROVERS FUTSAL – John Somers; Ian Byrne, Vinicius Terso, Hiago Freitas, Badr Bouznig, Brendan Dawson, David Cross, Richard Maher, Reinaldo Grube, Peter Finn, Braulio Rangel, Alexandre Vaz, Glen Somers. Injured: Philip McDonagh, Alvin Lawlor.


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