Courtesy: The AFC.com


Pro's Cafe (LIB) 6-4 NSW Thunder (AUS)

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Esfahan: Pro's Cafe claimed their second victory in Group B of the AFC Futsal Club Championship as they defeated NSW Thunder 6-4 at Pirouzi Stadium on Tuesday.

The three points means the Lebanese side will progress to the semi-finals if Chinese side Wuhan Dilong are unable to beat Port Authority of Thailand or if the Thais fail to win by a large enough goal margin.

Pro's Cafe started well and Khaled Takaji was instrumental in the opening goal in the seventh minute when he jinked past a defender before stabbing the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Roberto Maiorana, allowing player-coach Rabih Abou Chaaya to tap home.

Takaji found the side netting after 13 minutes while at the other end keeper Rabie Kakhi palmed away a long-range effort from Daniel Martinez.


But Pro's extended their lead with three minutes of the half remaining when Mahmoud Itani side footed the ball into the net.

NSW Thunder responded a minute into the second half when Jack Wetney lashed home from skipper Lachlan Wright's pass but Pro's Cafe hit back immediately as Abou Chaaya picked up the ball on the right, shirked the attention of two defenders before lifting a shot above Maiorana.

Takaji's rasping drive rattled the underside of the crossbar before nestling in the back of the goal soon after before Christopher Zeballos hit the post for NSW Thunder after 30 minutes following a well-worked move.

NSW Thunder pulled a goal back when Mustafa Alpkaya fired home and from then on the Australians were dominating possession but had also pushed their goalkeeper up to the halfway line to reinforce the attack and Pro's Cafe took advantage when Takaji found the net from his own half.

NSW Thunder again responded as Martinez scored after Dylan Maloney's effort had come back off the post but Pro's Cafe quickly restored their three-goal advantage when Takaji charged down the line before flicking a pass with the outside of his boot for Kassem Kawsan to turn home.

Jamie Amendolia's side rallied late on and reduced the deficit through Dean Lockhart but it was not enough to deny their opponents victory.



Courtesy: The AFC.com


Amendolia: A reality check for Aussie futsal

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Esfahan: NSW Thunder coach Jamie Amendolia believes Australian futsal has a long way to go before it can compete on an equal footing with the rest of Asia after his side lost their fourth and final game at the AFC Futsal Club Championship with a 6-4 defeat to Pro's Cafe on Tuesday.

The Australians had failed to register a single point from their previous three Group B games to see their chances of qualification to the last four disappear and despite a spirited display against Pro's Cafe, they again slumped to defeat.

Amendolia believes his players are better for the experience but acknowledged the need for futsal to improve in Australia if they are to perform better at future tournaments.

“There is a huge difference,” said Amendolia, pictured coaching his players during their match with Pro's Cafe.
“We are playing against sides here that are professional and train regularly. We play against sides that train once a week back home.

“The speed and the intensity is the big difference between this tournament and back in Australia.

“Looking back I think we are getting close to competing but there is still that little gap that we have to work on.

“This tournament for us has been very important. Before we came here we had no international experience but now we do and we can evaluate where we are at in our country and see what we need to develop.”

Pro's Cafe coach Rabih Abou Chaaya felt his side were rarely challenged by NSW Thunder as the Lebanese side gave themselves a chance of progressing to the last four.

Abou Chaaya's side needed to win if they were to have a hope of reaching the semi-finals but are still reliant on the result between Chinese side Wuhan Dilong and Port Authority of Thailand going their way.

“This was the easiest game in our group,” he said. “The Australian team had no hope for qualification and they were tired from Monday's game.

“They had no real motivation to beat us only to get three points.”





Courtesy: The AFC.com


Port Authority (THA) 9-5 Wuhan Dilong (CHN)

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Esfahan: Two goals inside the last minute from Nattavut Madyalan secured a dramatic 9-5 win for Port Authority of Thailand over Chinese side Wuhan Dilong and with it a place in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Club Championship.

With Pro's Cafe having won their game at Pirouzi Stadium earlier on Tuesday, the Thais needed to win by at least four goals if they were to snatch second place in Group B.

Port Authority dominated the first half and lead 4-1 at the break but a second-half revival from Wuhan looked set to deny both sides a place in the last four.

But Nattavut struck twice inside the last minute to ensure the Thais are through to the next stage by virtue of having scored more goals than Pro's Cafe.

Needing a win themselves to progress, Wuhan had taken the lead after six minutes when Zhang Xi's low shot crept just inside the far post but the Thais were quick to respond through Ukrit Taengtung.

Ulid Rossanakarn drilled home from the left for Port Authority's second before Wuttichai Tintawee increased their lead further when he converted a penalty kick after 12 minutes.

Ulid swept home from Nattavut's corner to make it 4-1 at the break but Wuhan pulled a goal back a minute into the second half through Wang Wei before Zhang volleyed home from Li Xin's cross.

Goals from Nattavut and Ulid put some distance between the two sides but again Wuhan fought back with goals from Hu Jie and Wang.

Ulid tapped home following a mistake by Liang Shuang before Sriroj Panyateerawong was sent off to set-up a nervy finish for Port Authority.

However, Nattavut struck twice in the dying seconds to secure the victory – and the goal tally - they needed to progress to the last four.




Courtesy: The AFC.com


Luck on Port side admits Udom

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Esfahan – Port Authority of Thailand coach Udom Taveesuk conceded a large slice of luck played its part in his side's 9-5 victory over Wuhan Dilong on Tuesday which seals their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Club Championship.

The Thais needed to defeat the Chinese side by four clear goals in order to claim second place in Group B ahead of Lebanon's Pro's Cafe, who had earlier beaten NSW Thunder of Australia 6-4.

Wuhan themselves needed to win and consequently it was a close-fought affair at Pirouzi Stadium with Port Authority struggling to build up a winning margin larger than three goals.

The late dismissal of Siriroj Panyateerawong did not help their cause but with less than 30 seconds left on the clock Nattavut Madyalan struck twice to secure the victory they needed.

“This was a very difficult game for our team,” said Udom.

“There were three teams that needed the points for second place.

“We were very lucky in the last minute as we lost one player with the red card but we still got the two goals at the end.

“We are very happy to be through to the semi-finals of this tournament.”

Wuhan player-coach Li Xin had no qualms with the result but felt the Chinese side's battling 11-6 win over group winners Al Sadd of Qatar on Monday had taken its toll on the players.

“It was an intense and competitive match,” he said.

“The Thais played well and used the right strategy and tactics but I believe we have done our best.

“We had tried our best in the match against Al Sadd and a lot of energy was wasted and a lot of the players were exhausted today.

“We have made a lot of friends at his tournament and I am sure we can learn a lot from the experience of playing here.”


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